The bedrock of the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers is that everyone has a voice. And thus, through writing classes, meetings, and workshops, a sizable contingent of local women has found the courage to write, to read what she wrote to others, and to realize firsthand that what she has to say resonates with others. This amazing recognition and the intellectual growth it provides for those lucky enough to experience it is the primary reason that the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers has captured the attention and affection of local women.
This year’s program offers 33 events from March 12-20. You can attend workshops, discussions, readings, performances, and talks. If you are like the many others who have partaken of the Festival’s programs, you’ll come away inspired to find your own voice. And to me, that’s the primary purpose of the Festival — recognizing that we all — every one of us — have stories to tell. That should be told. And heard.
Lorrin Krouss, who settled in West Stockbridge a few years ago, may be the perfect representative of the Festival’s impact. Like so many Berkshire residents, she “retired” here after years of working as a legal assistant. She looked forward to a leisurely life, but then she met Suzi Banks Baum, a writer who became her mentor. “When Suzi spoke about writing and women and how she thinks everyone should write, I felt my whole life shift,” she says. The first piece Krouss wrote was chosen for an anthology, and after recovering from the shock that what she wrote made sense to others, she’s been writing steadily ever since. “I became a published writer. Never in my life did I think that would happen,” she says with a mixture of delight and incredulity.
Jennifer Browdy is the well from which the Festival flows. A professor of English at Simons Rock, Browdy initiated the Festival in 2011. She has a deep-seated belief that every woman should be able to say she can write. The evidence over the six years since the Festival began is that Browdy is right. People have stories. And stories should be told.
Perhaps that is the reason the Festival has been remarkably successful, so popular that for the first time there is a magazine, WOW (Women of Words), available for free at many local hangouts and businesses. It provides details on the variety of programs being offered during its 10-day run.
Like so many organizations here in the Berkshires, there are a lot of volunteers who help in the planning. It takes considerable legwork to get the programs organized, and then there is the more daunting task of fundraising. But once bitten by the writing bug, many women gladly volunteer to insure that the Festival will be successful. Many of the programs are free of charge, particularly during the week. And when there is a charge, it is nominal.
Although the organization is called the Berkshires Festival of Women Writers, it’s not just for grownups. In August 2015, Browdy organized the Butterfly Leadership Program, which features monthly workshops where young women 13-18 meet to develop their writing and leadership skills.
The Festival is for 10 days, but during the rest of the year, there are regularly scheduled meetings for women who want to write and share their work. The get-togethers are free and open to anyone. They are based on the premise that you learn to write by listening to others. Those attending get 30 minutes to write, and then everyone shares their work. Krouss stresses that the writing sessions are non-judgmental. “And that makes you want to do more writing…because you’re hooked.”
The keynote speaker at this year’s conference is the celebrated food writer Ruth Reichl, who lives “next door” in New York State. She not only knows her way around the kitchen, but writes colorfully and knowledgeably about food, eating, restaurants, and, well, life in general. Even if you’re not a writer, attending her talk will be a treat.
Writing can be a lonely pursuit. You have to be alert, have to think, find the right words, and put them in the right context. Sitting for long hours writing by longhand, or more typically on the computer, can be frustrating (when not infuriating). So when there are programs featuring writers talking about how they write, by all means go! You will learn, meet fellow sufferers, and be inspired. See you there.
