Mindful Writing with NH Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary

With so much happening in the world these days, it can be hard to calm our minds and focus on creativity and productivity. Whether we are compelled to write as a means of processing our thoughts and feelings or asked to communicate in the course of our personal or professional lives, writing can be hard when we are overwhelmed by everyday pressures, internal expectations, and existential anxiety. Much is lost when we overlook the present moment because we forfeit the gifts of the ever-changing now in exchange for stress, frustration, and self-criticism. 

By integrating mindfulness, our writing can transform into a fulfilling and therapeutic practice. In this presentation, emeritus New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary will teach writing tools that harness mindfulness, so that every moment can be a prolific moment. A leading teacher in the field of mindful writing, Peary will discuss impermanence, audience demons, monkey mind self-talk, moment tracking, and overcoming preconceptions about writing ability and writing tasks. Participants will learn basic strategies to incorporate mindfulness into their writing lives and come away with an understanding that every moment is a perfect moment for writing.

 Registration is required. Space is limited. 

This program is interactive, so please bring a pen, paper, and readiness to write!

About Alexandria Peary
Alexandria Peary served as New Hampshire Poet Laureate from 2019-2024. For over twenty years, she has balanced creative and academic specialization and practice for a single reason: to support writers. Named "Most Inspiring Artist" by New Hampshire Magazine in 2021, her initiatives for the writing community have been twice featured in The Boston Globe. She has given invited talks and readings in regional, national, and international venues, including a keynote address, a multi-year mindful writing webinar for the National Council of Teachers of English, and a TEDx Talk, "How Mindfulness Can Transform the Way You Write." For her innovative civic work in poetry, she received a 2020 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship (Mellon Foundation) and a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The author of six books and editor of three books, her work has received the 2010 Slope Editions Book Prize, Joseph Langland Award, Pushcart and Best of the Net nominations, Notable Essay in 2014 and 2021 Best American Essays, and the 2013 Iowa Poetry Prize. Alex is a professor in the English Department at Salem State University. She is a 2024-2025 recipient of a Fulbright in Germany.