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What is it?
Literary Word Tonics is a mobile installation and shop for members of the public to receive a literary fix for whatever ails them. Poetry and fiction written by Writers Who Talk asbl members is packaged and sold as if it were medicine or tonics (i.e. in in empty pill capsules and jars).
Tonics are organised/labelled according to theme or mood of the piece(s) i.e. prose or poetry for gratitude, resilience, courage, connection, calm.
The installation was launched at the Migration Festival in March 2025 and will be presented again to the 2026 festival.
Why Writers Who Talk?
This project aims give good visibility for members of the association and the work of its members. At the same time, the project showcases how poetry and prose can be a powerful tool for good.
Main themes (2026):
1. For comfort and healing
1. For comfort and healing
This tonic will offer solace, nurture self-love, and guide the reader through healing.
The suggested dose for: Emotional pain, heartbreak, grief, and loss.
Example Poems/Stories: Comforting tales of recovery after loss, poems that explore love’s transformative power, or allegories about resilience.
Suggested themes: Forgiveness, acceptance, closure, and self-compassion.
2. For hope and light
2. For hope and light
This tonic will rekindle hope, remind of purpose, and illuminate dark places.
A restorative potion for: Depression, despair, existential dread, or feelings of emptiness.
Example Poems/Stories: Uplifting narratives of personal triumph, poems that reflect beauty in small things, or fables about light breaking through darkness.
Suggested themes: Hope, rebirth, gratitude, and connection.
3. For human connection
3. For human connection
This tonic will foster connection, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
A soothing solution for: Loneliness, alienation, or feeling misunderstood.
Example Poems/Stories: Stories about unlikely friendships, poems that celebrate diversity and community, or narratives that help readers see themselves in others.
Suggested themes: Unity, empathy, and shared humanity.
4. For courage and strength
4. For courage and strength
This tonic will inspire bravery, reinforce inner strength, and encourage action.
A healing balm for: Fear, self-doubt, and lack of confidence
Example Poems/Stories: Journeys of self-discovery, motivational poems that call the reader to action, or tales of transformation.
Suggested themes: Strength, perseverance, and boldness.
DEADLINE: 5th March 2026
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