"These people think," she said. "Their brain cells are functioning."

Mothers Who Write is a 10-week workshop that meets in Scottsdale every spring and fall. The class offers weekly guidance to Valley mothers who want to nurse their talents in writing.

The workshop is taught by Amy Silverman, associate editor at The Phoenix New Times, and Deborah Sussman Susser, an editor of the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.

The latest workshop soon will come to an end, and the students will be hosting a free public reading of their work today.

The students performing are an eclectic mix of working moms, stay-at-home-moms, experienced moms and new moms - but they are all mothers and they are all writers.

In each workshop, they share and critique each other's work, speaking fluently on a range of topics, from "The Wiggles" to teenage tattoos, sex to Starbucks.

On Saturday, Phoenix resident Cynthia Clark will read a piece about her daughter, Erica, who died four years ago.

Her piece, "How Much?" begins, "How much money is my daughter Erica's life worth? It's an obscene question, one that my husband, Michael, and I were slated to negotiate last month in an obscene city, Las Vegas."

Clark said she often writes about Erica, but also writes about her other daughter, Briana, who is now a teenager. One of her recent pieces dealt with an argument the two had at a makeup counter.

The workshop is a good environment to share, Clark said.

"It's a safe place to stretch," she said.

Fisher said she often writes about her children, but it's not a required topic. Her three children are adopted, and they all have special needs, she said.

By attending the workshop, she has learned that she isn't alone in her trials of motherhood, Fisher said.

"I'm finding commonalities," she said.

The workshop has about 15 students, Silverman said. Registration for the fall workshop, which begins Oct. 5, is already under way. Cost is $125.

For information, e-mail motherswhowrite@yahoo.com.

Workshop
What: Mothers Who Write, Mothers Who Read
Where: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Stage 2. 7380 E. Second St.
When: 2 p.m. today
Cost: Free to the public. Children welcome, though some material may not be suitable.
Information: www.motherswhowrite.com