A Collection of River Rock Writing represents eight voices of a group of Sacramento-region writers who come together to write on Tuesday mornings. The anthology is inspired principally by the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method. Some pieces may mention a prompt; others may not. In any case, these poems, stories, essays, and memories "needed to be written."The River Rock Writers find freedom in expression as we follow the AWA method's Five Essential Affirmations, as clarified by Pat Schneider: Everyone has a strong, unique voice. Everyone is born with creative genius. Writing as an art form belongs to all people, regardless of economic class or educational level. The teaching of craft can be done without damage to a writer's original vice or artistic self-esteem. A writer is someone who writes.