Creative Writing with Women in Prison - by Rosalchen Whitecross Hardcover

Book Synopsis

Centred on creative writing workshops in UK women's prisons, this book explores what happens when imprisoned women begin to tell their own stories which are shaped by disempowerment and social exclusion.

Blending creative practice with critical analysis, it positions prison writing as both a mode of resistance and a means of reimagining the self. It brings long-overdue attention to the voices of incarcerated women, so often marginalised within the wider prison estate and overlooked in criminological research. This is an urgent, compelling contribution to prison studies, creative criminology and feminist approaches to writing and pedagogy.

Review Quotes

'"Narratives of haunting" is a masterfully written work that weaves together layers of insight across disciplinary boundaries. Whitecross' creative writing skills transport readers into the sensory and emotive experiences of prison visitation areas and prison classrooms, deepening readers' understanding of the particular cruelty that is the incarceration of women. Prison researchers, educators and students alike will benefit immensely from the very practical insights Whitecross provides into the intricacies and practicalities of using creative writing as intentional and relational research praxis that counters the often extractivist nature of research in carceral settings. The wonderfully diverse creative writing of incarcerated women- embedded in thoughtful analysis of the structural conditions that manifest in their biographical narratives- is the centrepiece of "Narratives of haunting". Whitecross and all nineteen women's joint writing powerfully demonstrate how the combination of creative writing and social research can surface critical knowledge on criminalisation, imprisonment and hope, while at the same time creating opportunities for meaningful encounters and social connection. Whitecross' honest reflections on her own personal journey add authenticity to the book, leaving readers with ample opportunity to re-consider their own research practices.' Katharina Swirak, University College Cork

'This book pays attention to the micrology of women's lived experiences in critical, creative, poetic and arts-based ways and facilitates the creative writing, voices and stories of women in prison to speak, write and be heard. This book will make a difference - it is a tour de force!' Maggie O'Neill, University College Cork

About the Author