Writing Behind Bars: Mothers and Prison

Seven years ago, Kim Buchinsky was considered such a star at Amherst Writers Anonymous—a program for low-income women—that facilitators urged her to lead a group of her own. “I had no interest until I volunteered to pick up some women at a half-way house,” she says. “I realized that the women just released from prison and I struggled with many of the same issues.”

Today, Buchinsky is still in awe of the writing that comes from women both behind bars and those recently released. “Most don’t even have high school diplomas. They think they can’t write, yet they are incredibly talented,” she says.

Writing from the Heart
Writing programs for prisoners throughout the nation provide a voice for women cut off from society. Some are sponsored by colleges and non-profits; others are loosely structured, relying on unaffiliated volunteers and the cooperation of individual wardens.

Buchinsky is currently a facilitator at Voices from the Inside, an offshoot of Amherst Writers Anonymous. “We treat all writing as fiction even though many prisoners write of the terrible experiences in their lives,” she says. A running theme from mothers is longing for their children, which is particularly acute as Mother’s Day approaches.

Leaders provide prompts or set up scenarios like “put yourself in a fairy tale.” Once, Buchinsky smuggled in a variety of condoms—a topic inmates found hilarious. The group writes and then shares their stories. Facilitators type the papers and make suggestions. Once edited, they are retyped. “I love that first moment when a new writer sees her work all clean and beautiful,” Buchinsky says. At the end of ten weeks, each participant receives a copy of a book written by the class. “They have so much raw talent,” she says. “All we do is unleash it.”

Writing Is Its Own Reward
Writing is a proven panacea for many ills, both mental and physical. It also builds confidence and listening, reading, and speaking skills.

In a different model, Beyond Media’s Web site also gives prisoners a way to share their emotions. “We don’t run a writing program. Instead, we ask prisoners to submit their work to the site,” says Joanne Archibald, associate director.