Suzanne Edison, MA, MFA

Poet • Educator

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Available to Teach Writing Workshops for Caregivers, Patients, Medical Providers

I am available to teach expressive writing and/or narrative medicine workshops for anyone caring for or living with an ongoing health issue of any sort. (Could also include a visual art component.)

I have nearly 20 years experience in this field, having pioneered some of these writing workshops at Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco Wellness Center for Chronic Conditions, and Richard Hugo House in Seattle to name a few. I also co-chair the Narrative Medicine workgroup at CARRA (Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Association) with Dr. Lanis Levy. I have led workshops for the Cure JM Foundation, the Scleroderma Foundation, Global Genes organization, Virginia Mason Hospital Integrative Medicine Conference, and others. I have been the recipient of artist grants to teach writing/poetry to teens and adults, to medical providers, caregivers and those living with ongoing health issues, and to publish both their writings, visual art, and my own writing.

Workshop Options:

  • 2-3 hours includes readings, writing prompts, time to write, time to share
  • 1.5 hours includes writing prompts, time to write, Visual Art, some sharing time.

Workshop structure is flexible for small groups (5-15 people) or large groups (20-50 people).

Contact me for more information:

se*********@gm***.com











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All things Books, Poems, Teaching/Workshops etc.

Book cover with teal background and a face mask collage

Dear Arthritis: A Conversation

Dear Arthritis is the newest addition to books about illness and healing.  Sponsored in part by a grant from 4Culture of King County and The Arthritis Foundation, it was the result of a workshop that I provided with writing prompts, in tandem with my collaborator, visual artist Carol Rashawanna Williams. The recipients were families who have a child or young adult living with juvenile arthritis. They wrote Dear Arthritis letters based on the prompts I gave them to help them describe what it is like living with JA or caring for someone, or being a sibling to someone, with JA. Carol then offered them a wealth of art materials from which they could make super hero masks; eg. images that reflect what helps them cope with JA. The book can be purchased here.

WORKSHOP/READING

On February 3rd, 2024 I offered a free writing workshop at Book Tree in Kirkland, WA based on the theme illness and healing. 15 wonderful people (mostly poets) engaged with the writing and visual prompts to produce poems and drafts of their own. This was followed by a reading of my work from Since the House is Burning and The Body Lives Its Undoing, as well as a wonderful reading from Tamara Kaye Sellman from her book Intention Tremor. Tamara lives with multiple sclerosis and writes in many forms: (fiction, poetry, journalism) about her life and other topics.

POEMS

“Owl” was published in the Whale Road Review.

A recent poem of mine, “Imagined Conversation with My Daughter After Roe v. Wade Is Struck Down” was a finalist in the narrative poetry contest of the Naugatuck River Review and the journal can be purchased here.

“All Night I Wrestle” is forthcoming from Lily Poetry Review.

CONTACT ME!

And because it’s been so long since I’ve written a blog post or updated my website, feel free to contact me with any questions about teaching workshops, poetry in the world, or just to say hello. I’ll be busy doing these things but always welcome emails.

se*********@gm***.com











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Poems in the World, Readings, Teaching

It’s been a minute since I’ve written. But I’m here to share some links to poems and other work and opportunities.

Poetry:

First, a poem out very recently in MER Folio. Spells and Prayers Before Antimatter. Lots of great writing here too.

And in the recent journal Naugatuck River Review, my poem, Blood of the Peony Bed, was a finalist in their narrative poetry contest. Please buy the journal as it’s quite wonderful too.

I have a few more poems coming out soon that I’ll link as they arrive.

Teaching:

I’m teaching 4 workshops in collaboration with a visual artist, Carol Rashawnna Williams, for kids living with an autoimmune disease and their caregivers. Autoimmune diseases include but are not limited to: Juvenile Arthritis, Juvenile Myositis, Crohn’s, diabetes Type 1, Lupus, IBD, etc.  The first one is coming up Saturday, March 18th at SandPoint Learning Center (affiliated with Seattle Children’s Hospital) and more to follow in May and June. I made a little video about the workshops too. See it here and please register . It is called The Kaleidoscope of Autoimmune Disease workshop.

Reading:

I’ll be reading poems in support of Donna Spruijt-Metz’s new book, General Release from the Beginning of the World, along with Heidi Seaborn, on Monday, March 20th at Elliott Bay Bookstore starting at 7 pm.

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Interview: Health Central–Expressive Writing for Caregivers

I am grateful to Anna Kaufman for this interview opportunity.

My workshops at UCSF are open to any parent with a child living with an ongoing mental or physical health issue.  Contact Bhupinder Nahal at UCSF for registration information.

Bh*************@uc**.edu