Mind your language

Writers curious about the connections between language, creativity and the unconscious mind can explore all three this Saturday, May 16, when Willamette Writers hosts author and educator Dr. Hazel Denhart at Newport Public Library.

Titled “The Language of Creative Power: Neuroscience, Ancient Wisdom & the Hidden Power of Simple Words,” the two-hour presentation and workshop will examine how language shapes creativity, emotional intelligence and the writing process.

Denhart will lead guests through topics ranging from the neuroscience of language and the role of silence to the use of ancient linguistic forms to bypass the rational mind and unlock deeper creative insight. The session will conclude with a discussion of how language choices can help reduce fear surrounding artificial intelligence.

The event will include practical exercises and discussion, with worksheets provided. Participants are also invited to bring short excerpts from works in progress to experiment with new techniques, though participation in workshop activities is optional.

Denhart has taught storytelling and writing for more than 30 years and developed the Universal Grammar of Story, a mythopoetic writing methodology first created at Portland State University and later refined through international academic study and field testing.

Saturday’s presentation runs from 2 to 4 pm at Newport Public Library, located at 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to willamettewriters.org.