Creative Writing Classes & Writing Groups
WRITING GROUPS (also known as critique groups or workshop groups): I facilitate one ongoing creative writing workshop that meets regularly throughout the year and serves women writers working in the genre of creative nonfiction, including personal essay and memoir. This group os not intended for beginning writers.
The bulk of our time in this class is spent in workshop. This creative writing workshop is facilitated by me in the style that I was first taught at my MFA program in creative nonfiction. We spend time closely reading each other's creative nonfiction (personal essays or memoir excerpts) a week before our class, and then spend the class period giving constructive feedback on that work. By reading and providing feedback on each other’s work, we become more observant, empathetic and skillful writers.
Launched in 2019, this group is for 4-8 experienced writers who may not have the time or space for an MFA program, but who want the same continuity and rigor. We workshop each others’ personal essays/creative nonfiction/memoir excerpts and also provide support and accountability.
I require a 6 month commitment but many writers stay for years.
This workshop takes place roughly every other Monday evening from 6:30-8:30pm ET, on Zoom.
If we have not worked together I will request a writing sample and a 20 minute phone call to ensure that the workshop fits your needs, and to fit you with a group of writers working at a similar level of commitment and experience.
This group is currently full, but please fill out the contact form to be put on the waitlist for this group or future groups on Zoom. Learn more here.
CLASSES run for 6-8 weeks and they are ideal for writers who want to delve deep into a targeted topic or skill, or who want to try out a new genre. They are also wonderful opportunities to meet new writers, and generate new work. Below are the classes that I teach locally and online. Sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Twitter or Instagram to be notified when these classes are in session. I can also tailor these classes for your civic group, community group, book club, organization, college or arts council.
What does it mean to have a body in the world?
How can we find language for the experiences of our bodies? How can we reclaim the stories of our bodies from whoever else might be telling them?
Sometimes we don't think of all of the different bodies that exist in the world: pregnant bodies, postpartum bodies, disabled bodies, bodies with needs that feel like “too much,” racialized bodies, trans bodies, immigrant bodies, bodies at rest, bodies in motion. Bodies also have different ways of existing in the world. Bodies change over time. Bodies have histories.
In this generative class we will use writing exercises, prompts and selected readings to process and communicate the experience of having a body, whatever that might mean to you. This class will offer a way to practice a more embodied writing and reading experience.
Students describe this class as powerful, insightful and focused. I can tailor this class to your organization or college and I have a particular interest in bringing this class to places where it can serve writers who identify as physically disabled or chronically ill.
Our lives consist of millions of stories, both ordinary and extraordinary. In this class you will learn to craft those moments into compelling personal narratives. Using prompts and selected reading materials, this class will cover such topics as: getting started, voice, situation vs. story, and revision. Participants will have the opportunity to share their work in a supportive workshop setting and connect with a local writing community.
I have taught some iteration of this class at the Durham Arts Council, the Durham County Library, The Seymour Center and the Forest at Duke and I can tailor it to your organization or college.