Volcano Art Center to Host ‘Zen Pen’ Workshop on Sept. 21

Author Tom Peek. Courtesy photo: Volcano Art Center.

Spiritual explorers are invited to join award-winning novelist and longtime Hawaiʻi Island writing teacher Tom Peek for his “Zen Pen – Writing as Spiritual Practice” workshop. The day-long course will be on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9:30 to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano.

“Writing is a potent way to understand the human spirit, increase our awareness, examine our lives and foster compassion for others and ourselves,” said Peek.

Peek’s techniques and exercises have participants explore their creativity and voices. His former students have commented on the workshop as “enlivening,” “revelatory,” and “the best Saturday I’ve spent in a long time.”

The workshop fee is $75, $65 for VAC members. No writing experience is necessary. Students are asked to bring a personal object from their home, car, workshop, office or boat, and a handheld mirror, as well as a lunch. To register, contact Volcano Art Center at (808) 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Peek has taught his workshops since 1991 through Volcano Art Center, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and other venues on the islands of Oʻahu, Maui, Lanaʻi and Hawaiʻi, as well as in Canada. He’s written for three decades, both professionally and to process and guide the experiences of his life. His work ranges from university publications to late night radio comedy and includes fiction, newspaper commentaries, magazine articles, national park exhibits and award-winning video productions. His Hawaiʻi novel Daughters of Fire won a Benjamin Franklin Award from the national Independent Book Publishers Association.