Writing Through Grief and Healing

FINDING OUR WAY

Who We Are

Have you experienced a significant loss? Whether it’s the loss of a loved one (including a beloved pet), or the loss associated with illness and recovery, this in-person workshop offers a way to write our way toward a healthier relationship with these experiences.

Loss is complicated emotionally, and often leaves us searching for ways to express our grief and to navigate the healing process. Writing with a group is one way we can make sense of our feelings, and learn how others have coped and navigated their way.

We’ll follow the guidelines spelled out in the Amherst Writers and Artists method, (AWA) which focus on holding a safe and confidential space. We’ll also engage with spontaneous writing prompts and voluntary reading, offering only positive feedback.

This isn't a therapy group, rather, it utilizes writing as a healing art, a way of giving shape and meaning to challenging experiences. In this way, it can be therapeutic.

All participants are free to share their writing, or decline to read. You’re also free to write about other subjects, but the writing prompts and handouts for this workshop will all address grief and healing in some way.

Through thoughtful prompts and guided feedback, this workshop will help you:

give shape and meaning to stories generated by loss
find ways to hold conflicting emotions, such as anger and joy
consider the spectrum of experiences that represent grief
acknowledge various ways we can approach the healing process
reflect on our survival with the group as our witness
begin a personal writing practice you can return to when grief feels hard to name or hold

Details

Upcoming Dates: Sunday, November 8, 2026

Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location: Outer Sunset District, San Francisco

Investment: $175 (early bird $150/BAYS members $100)

What’s included: Light snacks and a homemade dessert

YOU'RE INVITED

The Setting and the Vibe

This is a gentle, grounding space for community and connection, with writing as the doorway. Think ocean air, cozy corners, warm coffee or tea, and a room full of kind gay men who are here for something real.

Wear comfortable clothes. Bring your journal and a pen (or whatever you like to write with). I’ll provide the prompts, the cozy atmosphere, some snacks, and a homemade dessert to keep you nourished while we create together.

Come as you are.

Join us for a powerful, transformative afternoon of writing and witnessing, as we connect with others through the very human experience of loss, grief, and healing.