Transforming Personal Narratives: An Evaluation of a Songwriting Workshop for Rural Women

The purpose of this article was to evaluate the contribution to the social and emotional well-being of rural women of a 3-day songwriting workshop. Six participants wrote songs and performed these locally and at the Women of the World Festival. Guided by narrative inquiry and transformative learning theory, this case study included data from reflective journals, one-on-one interviews, and written songs. Vignettes of the women’s key life moments were constructed and analyzed thematically. Four themes were identified: the importance and influence of personal experiences on songwriting, learning from process and one another, intrapersonal benefits, and interpersonal benefits. The article argued songwriting workshops provide opportunities for participants to reflect on experiences and to transform their worldviews. That is, songs and the songwriting process can help participants to restory their lives and enhance their sense of social and emotional well-being.