Joan Didion writes, “A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest.” The essay allows us to hone our personal voice, shaping the story with a focus on place, perspective and audience. This course will challenge us to think of how the essay is used in contemporary writing, from traditional memoir to lyric essay and even reportage. We will specifically look at how we can use form in new and dynamic ways in our own writing, and how we as writers can process personal experience and research to shape our own essays. While the focus of the class will be on the workshop, we will also read contemporary creative nonfiction and participate in short writing exercises. We will use our keen and discerning eye to better understand personal essay and craft stronger work.
- This event has passed.
PERSONAL ESSAY 2016-106
About the instructor
ELIZABETH LYONS holds a PhD from the UH Creative Writing Program, where she received an Inprint C. Glenn Cambor Fellowship and served as a senior nonfiction editor for Gulf Coast. A recipient of fellowships from Inprint, the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, and I-Park, she holds an MFA from Purdue University and a BA in English from the College of Charleston. Her first book, The Blessing of Dark Water, is forthcoming from Alice James Books. Her poems have appeared in Tin House, Salt Hill, Indiana Review, and others. Elizabeth works as a writer and editor in Houston, where she also teaches with Writers in the Schools.
By registering for an Inprint Writers Workshop you are agreeing to Inprint’s registration policies. Remember to sign up for the waiting list if the workshop you would like to take is full. To see the full Winter 2016 workshop schedule click here.
