The words we say to each other and ourselves shape our lives. One of Andrea’s favorite writing tenets is: Make every word count. In today’s episode we learn that every word counts in life also. This is the first episode of our second semester and we have some new students. You’ll hear Missy Hernandez tell her story called Words. Her story is about sharing words with her hero Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat Pray Love. Missy ended up on Gilbert’s Podcast, Magic Lessons. Hear how Lizzy’s words brought Missy back to life. Misha Mehrel, also a new student tells a story called Fighting Words about how words can trigger repressed emotion. We also bring you a response from a writing prompt by Rebeca Ruiz, a student in one of Andrea’s community workshops. Her story is about a single word, NO. Her parents said “no” to her when she wanted to go to New World School of the Arts and killed her creativity. Until now. Hear what tips Andrea gives Rebeca to make her story stronger. Here’s the prompt for this episode: A time words changed your life. Follow our daily prompts. Record your story and email to [email protected].

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are.

There’s no place in the world like writing class and we want to bring you in.

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). Writing Class Radio is produced by Diego Saldana-Rojas, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. This episode was produced with additional support from Wilson Sayre, Misha Mehrel and Miriam Herman.

Visit our musicians page to learn about the talented and generous people who allowed us to use their songs.

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If you love the lessons you get on each episode, you can get them ALL in one place--our three-part video series. $20 for one part or $50 for the series. Click on Video Classes on our website.

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There’s no better way to understand ourselves and each other, than by writing and sharing our stories. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?