The Programs for Writers team is pleased to introduce Thalia Stafford, one of our new teachers for our fall series of writing classes.
Thalia Stafford’s passion for writing can be traced to the first grade when they wrote their first story about taking a rocket to the moon. Since then, they’ve written many allegorical tales about vulnerability and healing. A first-generation Afro-Caribbean Canadian born in Toronto, Canada, Thalia is a storyteller by heart. Currently working on a Master of Fine Arts at Vermont College of Fine Arts for Writing for Children and Young Adults, Thalia has been a Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Fellow in 2023 within the Young Adult cohort and is working on their first novel, backward kismet. Thalia loves all things savory, creepy, and insightful and enjoys spending endless hours with their dog, Margot.
This fall, Thalia will be teaching Naming (Writing) Race in Story, which starts October 3. We chatted with them about what they’re looking forward to with this class, as well as their insights on the relationship between teaching and writing:
How did you get involved with Literary Arts as a writing teacher?
I started at Literary Arts as a student and loved the experience and the connections I made while living in Portland, Oregon. One connection I made turned into a mentorship that has been a great support for me as I begin my writing career. When my mentor heard I ran my ‘Naming (Writing) with Race’ workshop through Lambda Literacy (I am a 2023 fellow), she suggested I send a proposal to Literary Arts and share my workshop with this organization that has given me so much. I am glad I did, and I am excited to share my work with those who are interested in learning the importance of representation within their creative works.
Can you share a little about the class you plan on teaching this fall?
This workshop holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it important to have proper representation in our stories (particularly for youth), but it is also important that the representation we choose to highlight is accurate. Race is not just an appearance; it is an experience, and when writers choose to write outside of their own experience (whether it be race, gender, ability, etc.), we have a responsibility to do the work so we don’t harm our readers. It’s my hope this workshop can help writers do exactly that.
Where will you be teaching/telecommuting from?
Canada! I am from Kitchener, Ontario, and will be telecommuting from there.
What are some things you hope students will learn in this class?
I hope they will gain introspection about themselves and others, especially regarding our biases and the power of voice we all carry as writers.
If you were to describe your teaching style, what would you say?
I believe connection is a great way to learn from each other and ourselves. By listening to personal experiences, we can grow in ways that can’t be done on an intellectual level.
In what ways is your writing life shaped by the work you do as a teacher, or vice versa?
Like any writer, I put a lot of myself into my creative work. Like me, my characters experience many “isms” that are, sadly, commonplace both in Canada and America. Through my teaching, I hope to educate other writers, whether they be kids, teens, or adults, that we can all do better, and with our words, we can inspire and change the minds of many for the better.
