Escaping Into Words: A Creative Writing Workbook

Escaping Into Words: A Creative Writing Workbook is an English translation of a book originally published for incarcerated women in Brazil. Vicente Concilio and Caroline Vetori at the state university of Santa Catarina (UDESC) in Florianópolis, Brazil, were facilitating a theatre workshop at their local women's prison when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted their work. All volunteers were prevented from entering the prison for nearly two years. Concilio and Vetori wrote this book to stay connected to the imprisoned women, using poetic language to prompt them to write about their lives, thoughts, and ideas. Graphic designer Anelize Zimmermann created vibrant artwork to complement the text and invite readers to write and engage. The workbook was distributed for free in the prison in Florianópolis and in an open access edition online.

Since 2016, the prison theatre program at UDESC has been a part of an international exchange program with the University of Michigan's Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP). Faculty and students visit classes at each other's universities and visit theatre workshops in prisons in both nations. Ashley Lucas's translation of Escaping Into Words extends this exchange and makes this text available to writers in Michigan prisons through PCAP.

The open access version of this book makes it possible for anyone with an interest in creative writing to explore the world and their own thoughts using this innovative and beautiful text. Those with incarcerated loved ones using the book can access the online edition or purchase a paperback edition to share this experience.