"Writing begins in curiosity, an impulse toward discovery, a feeling that something wants to be expressed," instructor Jennifer Lewis says. "This class will give you the inspiration and encouragement you need to follow that impulse and to discover the stories that are already within you
In this class, we will explore poetry together, none of us traveling to precisely the same place, but all of us keeping one another company on the journey. By the end of five weeks, you’ll be able to uncover the emotional truths that most compel you to write
“By writing memoir and personal essays, we give form to our histories and make something of meaning and beauty that is uniquely ours,” says instructor Katharine Harer. "I love this genre because you can be yourself, complete with your idiosyncrasies, strong opinions, flashes of wisdom and crazy moments
In both literature and film, there are moments that resonate across generations. The most powerful are transformative, immersive, emotional, and filled with memorable imagery and subtext. They give the writer a chance to “show vs. tell” and allow the reader to experience a story firsthand
In the Writing Salon’s Feedback Circle classes, students will gain a vision and vocabulary to make craft decisions in creative pieces, for both early drafts and developed work, and to guide classmates through their own process. While there will be some generative writing activities in class, the bulk of time will be spent sharing creative pieces and giving and receiving feedback
“Concise, intense, and urgent, flash fiction sits at the crossroads of storytelling and poetry,” says instructor Jennifer Lewis. “Flash pieces are designed to elicit a strong emotional response in a single sitting, often capturing a moment, an epiphany, or a turning point
“How do we write about moments that defy easy explanation, like waking from a vivid dream that quickly fades or unexpectedly meeting a long-lost friend on a crowded street?” asks instructor Lauren Krauze. "In this class, we’ll dive into memories and experiences that may elude us, treating them as rich sources for creative exploration
In this 3-week class, we'll look at poems by risk-taking poets like Diane Seuss, Danez Smith, and Chen Chen, among others. We’ll use these poems as jumping-off points for our work, doing prompt-driven writing inspired by what we find there
For 25 years, The Writing Salon has used the power of writing prompts to coax out writers’ work in its raw form—work that would later become novels, personal essays, poems. Write Now! will showcase a Writing Salon teacher’s favorite paths to the source of inspiration
“What gnaws at you about the times we’re living in? What enrages, confuses and saddens you?” asks instructor Katharine Harer. “This class will provide a safe and encouraging space where we can write creatively about what is happening in our communities, our country, and the world