Dharma by the Dozen: The Art of Spiritual Writing

ByHeather Conn

Spring 2013 002 low-res

While a master’s student in creative nonfiction writing from 2007-2009, I wrote the essay Dharma by the Dozen: The Art of Spiritual Writing.

This paper identifies 12 characteristics found in the best writing on this topic. Here are just two examples:

 

  • Be as transparent as possible.
  • Use cultural and cross-genre literary sources to
    reinforce a point    .

The essay addresses the work of Peter Matthiessen, Thich Nhat Hanh, Natalie Goldberg, Anne Lamott, Andrew Harvey, and Pema Chodron.

One of my mentors at Goucher College, Baltimore posted my essay on the Creative Nonfiction department’s intranet. If you would like a copy, please contact me.

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