Creative Writing: For Carers By Carers

Reading poetry and prose can help us gain valuable insights into any situation in our lives, including our responsibilities as carers. In turn, writing poetry can be a very powerful means of expression and can help us come to terms with difficult times in our lives. These stories and poems are by carers, for carers. Have a read and see if they inspire you to take up your pen and write. 

Marylynn Boyes

Marylynn Boyes

Caring has been a way of life for Marylynn Boyes since the age of nine, when she began supporting her mother, who had a mental illness. While Marylynn missed a great deal of school, writing became a cathartic outlet over the years, as did creatively painting all over the wall of the family home. Today, Marylynn supports her sister, who has a mental illness, and teaches creative writing classes for carers.  Listen to an interview with Marylynn in which she explains how writing helps her in her caring role. You can also listen to Marylynn reading her poems, Up Everest and Up Olympus.  If you would like to organise a creative writing workshop with Marylynn in your area, contact her through Carers NZ.

Sharron Martin and Viv Nelson

Sharron Martin and Viv Nelson

Sharron Martin and Viv Nelson began writing at one of Marylynn Boyes’ Nelson workshops.  Years later, they still create poetry, often in tandem, while out together walking their dogs. They say the value of the creative writing workshop was first and foremost the experience they shared with other carers and, later, the perspective they gained about caring through their writing. Listen to Viv and Sharron introduce and read their poetry.

David Cohen

A Perfect World book cover

David travelled the world to gather the information he needed for his book A Perfect World – a Father’s Quest to Understand Autism.  Listen to our interview with David about his experiences. David’s son, Eliot, has autism. 

 

 

 

Marylynn Boyes