Helping People Awaken Creatively Through Writing

  • "I love Devotion to Writing so much. Thank you for doing what you're doing for writers. It is very nurturing. I hope you continue to offer these workshops so more people can experience this blessing."

    —Laurie M.

  • “I was raised in an environment of extreme negativity, where creativity was not recognized. Thank you so much for pointing out how gratitude, generosity, and creativity are connected; it was a significant revelation for me. Blessings to you in abundance!”

    —Herne H.

  • "To my great astonishment, Devotion to Writing provided a very short pathway to the state of creative flow. Thanks to you, I'm able to trust my creative urges and enter this flow state easily and without fear."

    —J.F.

  • "I'm glad I found Devotion to Writing. This is the kind of help I've been looking for."

    —Domenic P.

Matthew Kelly writes, “We become what we celebrate.”

Let’s celebrate, and commune daily with the creative energy at work in, through, and around us, using writing as a tool on our soul journey to joy, abundance, and creative fulfillment.

About Devotion to Writing

Devotion to Writing is not just about overcoming writer’s block and putting words on a page—it’s about transformation. We guide writers at all stages of their journey, through the alchemy of a devoted, creative practice, turning fear into flow, doubt into confidence, and silence into dynamic expression. In our safe and supportive community, writing becomes a ritual of self-discovery, unlocking creative fulfillment and reshaping your life.

Devotion, ritual practice, awakens creativity and unlocks your abundant creative energy. Consistency eliminates doubt and fear which cause writer’s block and silence you before you even begin writing. By showing up for yourself daily, and breaking the silence of the page, you establish a new, powerful habit of writing.  Along the way, a new relationship forms between you and writing, you and creation—a trust and belief in yourself as infinitely creative, and the fashioner of your life.

We understand writing can feel difficult. It can feel scary, vulnerable, like there’s nothing to say. Where do you begin? What if what you write isn’t good?

We create a safe, compassionate space in our workshops, retreats, and residencies to guide, support and encourage you on your writing journey. Our workshops are gateways that transform fear and blocks into breakthroughs, and into actual stories, poems, and essays you feel good about. Whether it’s a workshop, retreat, or residency, Devotion to Writing immerses you in writing, so you build a sustainable writing practice. We provide not just time and space to write, but guidance, inspiration, and community that every writer needs.

When we act, the Universe, The Muse, Divine Consciousness, God, whatever you wish to call it, acts to assist us. Your actions initiate a divine communion between you and Creation. Devotion to Writing helps you access this innate creative energy, and enlist it in realizing your writing dreams.

We view writing as a transformational tool. We help you discover the joy and love in the creative writing process, thereby changing your relationship to the mystery of creating. You develop a faith in your process and learn to honor yourself as a writer and creator.

Devotion to Writing is different from other writing programs in that it:

  • Acknowledges that doubt and fear are part of the creative process but can be overcome.  

  • helps you write through the mental, physical, and emotional blocks that paralyze you. 

  • works you build a writing practice incrementally, guiding you as you develop faith in your abilities and realize your biggest creative visions and dreams.

  • Believes Devotion is the key to sustaining creativity. We employ both writing ritual and practices to help you cultivate a daily writing habit.

  • Believes everyone is a writer, a creative, and has within them an infinite spring of creative energy. 

  • Gives you the tools you need to build and sustain a writing practice, and thereby live a writing life.

  • Develops in you a dynamic, resilient writing practice that isn’t dependent on external validation for its sustenance.

  • Insists you already are abundantly creative and able to write and need only reconnect to the vital source of creativity you are.

  • Nourishes your natural inspiration and joy so you can sustain your writing.

Meet Justen

Devotion to Writing is my life’s work, my service. It is a gift to create, and help others discover their creative gifts. As a young writer and artist, I always appreciated the teachers who supported and encouraged me, who told me “you can”. Those people who saw me as a writer, taught me to see myself as one. Too many people have been told they can’t, they aren’t good enough, it’s a nice hobby, or whatever. Too many people reinforce the negative ideas they’ve received and shut down creatively. Devotion to Writing helps you reawaken creatively.  

I’ve been helping people write through Devotion to Writing for more than 12 years. The ideas, tips, and advice I share come from my experience as a writer and artist struggling to cultivate a practice and sustain myself during my 35+ year career. Devotion to Writing is an approach to writing and creating that released me from creative blocks, paralysis, frustration, and negativity. Devotion transformed my life from emptiness into a deeply fulfilling creative journey.”

Bio

Justen Ahren is the author of two collections of poetry, A Strange Catechism, and A Machine for Remembering. In 2007 after receiving an MFA from Emerson College in Creative Writing, he started Noepe Center for Literary Arts and The Martha’s Vineyard Writers’ Residency which he directed until 2018. Martha’s Vineyard Emeritus Poet Laureate, Justen has appeared on NPR. His poetry and photography have appeared in numerous literary and photography journals, and exhibited at MassMoCA.  His work has been adapted to the stage and set to music by Grammy Award winning composers Glen Roven and Ileana Vasquez.  In 2013, after his on creative awakening, he started teaching Devotion to Writing.  You can learn more about him and view his work at Justenahren.com, or on instagram @justenahren.

Justen Ahren

Poet, Author, Founder of Devotion to Writing