Salty Mamas and Papas

Communal Pen workshops are at the heart of what we do. Each workshop has a facilitator team and thoughtful prompts with the goal of creating community connection. Read more of our details below of this workshop.

Follow this link to register for the event

Salty Mamas and Papas will provide an opportunity for the community to come together and share the good, the bad, and sometimes hilarious stories. “From navigating school pick-up through tourist traffic to maintaining familial calm through countless storms, we want to hear what it’s like (and what it’s really like) to parent in the fastest growing region in the nation.” According to Athenaeum Press organizers, “whether you are living the salt life or feeling salty about life, new to the state or native, come build community with us through storytelling.”

Coastal Carolina University’s Athenaeum Press will host a Salty Mamas and Papas community writing workshop in Pawleys Island, S.C., for parents of all identities raising children in a vacation destination town. The event will be held in the Bunnelle Center’s community building at 95 Centermarsh Lane in Pawleys Island on Thursday, March 7, from 6:30-8 p.m. The event is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. Dinner and children’s activities for school-age children (ages 6 to 18) will be provided.

The Athenaeum Press, CCU’s student-driven publishing lab, operates to make the phrase “Local Stories Matter” a reality. This workshop is part of a new Athenaeum Press collaboration with Communal Pen. Originally established by the South Carolina Arts Commission in 2010, these sessions showcase stories to explore the dynamic and ever-changing state of South Carolina. Communal Pen creates space for, amplifies, and connects unheard voices through writing workshops, curated publications, and a digital platform.

At Communal Pen events, community members gather and respond to prompts however they choose with whatever skill level they bring to the table. With participants’ permission, all stories will be kept in a story bank that showcases South Carolina’s diversity. Themes for stories and workshops vary to achieve the goal of community building through storytelling.

Communal Pen workshops draw upon and even rekindle memories deeply rooted in their geography, culture, community, and family. Past participants have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have a shared memory with people from different backgrounds and communities. If you have a child, you no doubt have experience and wisdom to share. Regardless of your approach to parenting, your story is welcome.

Event Details

Date:
March 7, 2024 6:30 pm

Duration:
90 minutes

Virtual

Location:
Bunnelle Center
95 Centermarsh Lane
Pawleys Island, SC

Follow this link to register for the event

Other Stories


  • I enjoyed this experience very much. I enjoyed meeting people and other writers and being able to hear their stories. This is a great opportunity to cold write and get something done off the cuff and, in many ways, has helped me reconnect to writing.

    Rob McManus

  • I appreciate the freedom of expression, the community, the sharing, and the encouragement the Communal Pen offers. It goes beyond just the individual writing or putting things down on paper… it allows you to be inventive and to see things in a different way.

    Janice Johnson

  • The facilitators really cared about what everyone had to say. They really cared, and I feel like that was unique. They give everyone space to share their stories from our community. The black culture is so strong in tying stories together and handing things down over the generations, and I am excited that this workshop seems to share that goal. Connecting to a community that wants to listen to stories and share them like that is powerful.

    Patricia

  • I love folklore, and sharing stories of people’s families. The family stories that may or may not have been embellished over the years… it made me think back on my family stories. Hearing the stories of other attendees made me realize that we have such a rich history of folklore and stories in South Carolina. Listening to the stories gave you a wonderful front porch feeling. It was immediately so comfortable and welcoming.

    Eden

  • No matter what the topic is, the Communal Pen makes you go deeper and share the stories that inspire you. I loved going a little deeper with the other writers, then going deeper into what people see and think. There are no barriers to stop us from expressing ourselves. I learned how to relax and tell my stories to the people in my community.

    Sandy

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