Writing Our Way Out is a novel that considerably changed my views on incarceration and those who find themselves in prison.  The book didn’t place emphasis on the crimes of the prisoners, but instead focused on the impact of childhood and the rehabilitation process for prisoners once they returned to the real world or while they were in jail.  The second half of the novel shocked me in that not everybody had a “happy ending.” In fact, many of the prisoners ended up serving more terms in prison after the writing workshop was completed.  Despite the workshop being a strong foundation for personal reflection, those that got rearrested couldn’t stay away from the justice system, whether it be due to societal biases (racism as told by Coogan) or the fact that many men coming out of incarceration aren’t prepared to return to a life of free will and social dynamics. This sheds light on flaws pertaining to the justice system, as it stresses punishment rather than personal growth.  Many men who come out of prison return to the same relationships, lifestyles, and thus actions that got themselves into prison in the first place.

The story that I wanted to focus on was the life of Stan.  More specifically, I wanted to focus on the impact that storytelling had on his life after being released.  From having a poor relationship with his father to getting caught into prostitution, Stan faced many of the struggles that afflicted other prisoners in their stories.  Despite this however, Stan starts to find and connect with himself at a greater level while in prison. Through a deeper understanding of his faith, Stan realizes that his body is the temple of the living God.  Trying to pursue a loving life of God as he leaves prison, Stan uses his faith as a firm foundation in his everyday life. Whether it be smoking or any other material things that negatively impacts his life, he wants to stay away from it.  Learning that he negatively affected others Stan realizes that by turning his life around he needs to be the bright light for everyone else to see.