Thursdays April 16-30
from 6:30-9:30 p.m. (3 class meetings)
Instructor: Val Gryphin
For writers at all levels
The dominant voice in the American literary cannon and popular media is white, straight, cisgendered, neurotypical, able-bodied and Christian. However, this combination is not the pinnacle of writing, and there are so many diverse voices that not only deserve to be heard, but need to be heard. In the era of #ownvoices, it is more important than ever to learn how to write our own truths. In this course, we will be talking about how to write fiction, nonfiction and/or poetry from our perspective. We will talk about bringing out #ownvoices in our writing lives and in our wider circle, as well as touch on submitting to markets we might not feel would be interested in our voice. We will do exercises to bring out our individual life experiences, and learn to feel comfortable talking in our own authentic voice that is often unseen in mainstream culture. By the end of this class students will have a greater understanding of the value of their own diverse voices, as well as examples of work that speaks from that voice.
