Welcome to Lapidus International
The International Writing Community
Lapidus International is a membership organisation which offers a range of resources to support writing for wellbeing.
This includes development opportunities, exclusive member events, access to the latest research, and a supportive network to enhance both personal and professional writing practice.
Upcoming Events
Harnessing creativity to deliver rich, enjoyable and meaningful evaluation.
Tuesday 16th September, 23rd September and 30th September 2025, from 10am – 12.30pm.
Are you frustrated with traditional evaluation methods?
Do you feel your evaluation tools don’t reflect the creative nature of your work?
Are you finding it hard to engage participants in evaluation?
Do you get poor response rates from questionnaires?
Over the course of three interactive workshops, we will look at ways in which we can better harness creativity to generate appropriate, relevant, meaningful evaluations.
You will discover how to evaluate in ways that are enjoyable and rewarding for participants; that generate improved response rates; and deliver richer and more meaningful data.
Working collaboratively, we will co-produce creative solutions to real-world scenarios. Sharing ideas and practice, we will explore ways in which creativity can reinvigorate existing evaluation methods including questionnaires, focus groups, feedback and monitoring.
The full cost is £225 for three workshops and all handouts.
A £75 discount is available for freelancers and self-funding individuals. Please email support@janewillis.co.uk for a coupon code.
- Lapidus Member Event Only
A Personal Reflection on the Evolution of the Field of Words and Writing for Wellbeing & Lapidus
Presenter: Celia Hunt
Saturday 5th July, 10:00am-11:15am.
In this presentation I will endeavour to give a picture of my involvement in the field of creative writing for well-being, including the evolution of Lapidus and the MA in Creative Writing and Personal Development at the University of Sussex, which I ran for 14 years until its discontinuation in 2010. I will talk about some of the research I did into the therapeutic and development effects of creative writing that I carried out during my years at Sussex and what I and the tutor team learned from our teaching of the MA. I will also talk about the research I have done since I retired and the writing of my self-analytic autobiography which explores literary and poetic material I have written across my lifetime. We will end with a short writing exercise.
About the Presenter
Celia is Reader Emerita in Continuing Education (Creative Writing) at Sussex University, where she ran the MA in Creative Writing and Personal Development. She is the author of four books: The Self on the Page (1998) (with Fiona Sampson), Therapeutic Dimensions of Autobiography in Creative Writing (2000), Writing: Self and Reflexivity (2006) (also with Fiona Sampson) and Transformative Learning through Creative Life Writing (2013), as well as articles and chapters in other books. Before joining Sussex University, Celia worked as Literature Officer at the South East Arts Board, where she set up writing residencies in health, educational and social care settings. She was a founding member of Lapidus and its first Chair. She is now retired but continues to write poetry and autobiography.
Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85685634063
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience. FREE AND NO TICKETS REQUIRED. Use the Zoom link above to access the event.
- Lapidus Member Event Only
Re-authoring Narratives of Hope: Bibliotherapy as Narrative Practice
Presenter: Mariana Casale
Saturday 7th June, 4:00pm-5:15pm.
Narrative Bibliotherapy is inspired in the main concepts, approaches and therapeutic skills of Narrative Therapy (developed by Michael White and David Epston in the 1980’s).
I will take you through these while also holding a mini-bibliotherapeutic space in which a literary text will enable us to start potentially difficult conversations and engage in collective meaning-making. The aim is twofold: to identify and deconstruct received and dominant discourses that may be causing us suffering; and to hold re-authoring conversations that identify and support the creation of preferred narratives.
These alternative stories are inspired and driven by what you give value to, thus potentiating the wisdoms that underpin them, and enabling the devolution of agency and empowerment. Ultimately, my hope is that the power of each voice and its reverberations in the collective can become forces for individual and societal change.
About the Presenter
Mariana Casale holds an MA in Literature, Culture and Modernity (London) and a PhD in Latin American Cultural Studies (Manchester). After a trajectory in languages and literature teaching, she works independently as a narrative bibliotherapist, literary consultant, speaker, facilitator and trainer. She delivers a range of shared reading and bibliotherapy workshops in Manchester and online, supervises practitioners and teachers. She also teaches in the Department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at the University of Manchester.
Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82965710268
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience. FREE AND NO TICKETS REQUIRED. Use the Zoom link above to access the event.
- Lapidus Member Event Only
Exploring The Writing For Wellbeing Landscape
Presenter: Kate McBarron
Saturday 3rd May, 10:00am-11:15am.
Kate’s experiences as a practitioner and researcher have led to her seeking out evidence of writing-for-wellbeing’s impact across a wide range of areas. Inspired by this journey – and with the help of AI – Kate has created a visual landscape to illustrate her perspective of the field. Embedded within it are a host of natural-world metaphors, which provide a springboard for showcasing examples of the evidence available. Her ultimate goal is to use this landscape to help share the versatility, power and potential of writing with others.
Journey with Kate, explore the evidence, and consider your own view of this rich landscape.
About the Presenter
Kate McBarron is passionate about words and their ability to enhance our daily lives, from relaxation to self-discovery to thriving at work. With a background in marketing & communications, she began exploring the world of writing-for-wellbeing formally in 2012. Since then, she has run workshops for a wide range of audiences and has become an active member of the research community. She is a tutor for the Professional Writing Academy, and is the founder of WriteToRelax.com – a website which grew out of her desire to reduce stress and spark creativity after becoming a new mum. She is also a co-founder of WritingForLife.co.uk, which offers workshops and resources to support wellbeing at work and beyond. She has an MA in Creative Writing and an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes.
Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87173791748
About the Lapidus Living Research Community
The Lapidus Living Research Community (LLRC) meets on the first Saturday of every month via Zoom to discuss all things research, with a focus on qualitative arts-based research practices, theory and methods.
All Lapidus members are welcome, regardless of research experience. FREE AND NO TICKETS REQUIRED. Use the Zoom link above to access the event.
Welcome to Words in the Wood!
What?
A day of guided creative writing, in a beautiful woodland, shared with like-minded professionals. We have use of stunning indoor and outdoor spaces, fire circle, walks in the wood, time to be alone and together.
Who for?
Anyone in the caring professions, including:
· Counsellors
· Psychotherapists
· Medical professionals
· Wellbeing practitioners
· Coaches
Why?
· Experience therapeutic writing for self-care, giving us the resources to help our patients and clients, in a welcoming and supportive environment.
· Learn tools for reflective practice.
· Build rich connections learning with and from others in similar fields.
· Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a beautiful 70-acre mixed woodland.
With whom?
The day is led by Caroline Hukins, a qualified counsellor and therapeutic writing practitioner. She works in private practice, counselling individuals and couples, and runs Writing for Wellbeing groups and training events.
Photo credit: Jeremy Parkinson
People with lived experience of cancer spend many hours in hospital waiting rooms, often experiencing anxiety and stress. Sussex Cancer Fund are sponsoring the project ‘Words from the Waiting Room’, which will offer a space for patients and/or friends and family of patients who have spent time in the oncology waiting room to explore their experiences creatively. In a two-hour workshop, Deborah and Karina will use writing prompts to help participants explore their own stories, with opportunities to use collaged words for those who feel inhibited by writing.
To book, please email Deborah on deborah.writingwell@gmail.com
Join Lapidus International...
…from as little as £3.50 per month.
As a Lapidus Member, you are part of a supportive, international writing community who believe in the power of using words to enhance and transform.
You’ll receive a monthly newsletter, get discounts on events and training, have access to our online library of Lapidus journals and more. All for as little as £3 per month!
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