Meredith Heller is now a performing poet and singer-songwriter with graduate degrees in writing and education. But she was once a young teen facing devastating life circumstances who happened upon poetry and found in it a way through pain, into inner strength, and toward self-expression and self-love. She has devoted her life to helping others find the same and here shares ways that anyone - at any age, and with any level of education or writing experience - can learn to use and play with words. Her methods show that one's unique, personal perspectives - on everything from childhood, disappointments, and fears to food, nature, and wildlife - can be keys to self-discovery. Writing becomes a personal refuge and a means of communication. Whether used on their own, with a partner, or in groups, Heller's strategies allow everyone to acknowledge and move through what hurts and limits them, discover their innate sense of wonder and curiosity, and revel in creativity, confidence, and purpose.
