Louise Dunlap is a sixth-generation Californian. She has taught writing to undergraduates and grad students in urban and environmental planning, worked with writers in advocacy groups, wrote Undoing the Silence, and began journeys into the hidden history of white supremacy that led to this book. She honors the spiritual teachings of many traditions and, in 2004, was ordained by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh into the Order of Interbeing, with the name True Silent Teaching.
"Undoing the Silence offers six tools to help us write. They are:
The Freewriting Tool, The Process Tool, The Thinking Tool, The
Audience Tool, The Feed-Back Tool and The Word-Power Tool. As I
read through the explanation of each tool and tried the exercises,
I noticed that, by trial and error, I have used some of them when I
tackle a writing project. However, my employment of such techniques
has been pretty haphazard. This toolbox is a wonderful resource
because it includes strategies to help us overcome the obstacles
that stand in the way of effective writing. Dunlap encourages us to
step back from the pressure to make our writing perfect on the
first attempt and to let a piece sit while we do something else to
recharge our minds. I have found that the freewriting tool is quite
liberating and has already enriched my writing. Another very
important perspective I have gained is an understanding of my
tendency to write in the passive voice. One of the exercises helped
me to convert my passive verbs into active ones. A statement such
as "it is believed" becomes "I believe". It may be scary to put my
own opinions and thoughts into words, but they immediately become
more powerful when I do.
There are many more wonderful suggestions and tips for
strengthening writing in this book. I believe every writer can
benefit from reading it and trying them out. With the help of
Louise Dunlap, may we all use our voices more effectively to change
our communities for the better!" - Nancy McKinney (Gustavus Myers
Center) "Undoing the Silence: Six Tools for Social Change Writing
by Louise Dunlap is like The Artist's Way for social change
activists. This book kicks off by examining why we often find it so
difficult to put our thoughts, ideas, and motivations into words
much less share them with the public even when we're passionately
dedicated and feel strongly about the issues we're involved with.
On top of our own personal fears of inadequacy that lead to
self-silencing, we've got institutional silencing to deal with The
social structures that discourage anyone from rocking the boat." -
Siel (Green LA Girl: Urban Eco Living by the Beach) "I don't know
anyone who conveys more essential insights more clearly and
briefly. I can't think of a better book to recommend to people who
want to make a difference." - Peter Elbow (Author, Writing With
Power, Writing Without Teachers; Professor Emeritus, University of
Massachusetts Amherst) "A valuable, beautifully written resource,
this book will certainly inspire and unleash critical thinking and
writing for social change--both for activists who never imagined
they could be writers and for seasoned writers in need of renewal."
- Shamin Meer (Activist Writer and Researcher, South Africa)
"Louise Dunlap brings us this elegant and moving book on how to
find your powerful voice and understand your audience. Every
professional grad school should require this book." - Ann Markusen
(Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota)
"With these tools, my ordinary words become a vehicle for change."
- Mary Leno (Eviction Free Zone, Cambridge Women's Commission)
"...having worked in medical and federal government jobs that
required writing in a passive voice. I took Louise's writing course
and realized that not only was I writing passively, I was thinking
passively!" - Emma Featherman-Sam (Transit Coordinator, Oglala
Sioux Tribe Department of Transportation) "If fish had hands,
Louise Dunlap could teach them to write! After attending her
workshops and classes, hundreds of labor and community activists
have used Dunlap's tested techniques to write clearly and
passionately for social and economic justice." - Susan Moir
(Director, Labor Resource Center, University of Massachusetts
Boston) "The techniques in Undoing the Silence value the knowledge
ad experience of emerging writers. The power of this work is "The
Lifting of Every Voice"... the basis of building a real democracy
in this country." - Mel King (Community leader and former
Massachusetts State Representative; Professor Emeritus,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT))
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