Writing Personal and Lyric Essays at The Loft
THURSDAYS, NOVEMBER 10-DECEMBER 22
12:00-2:00PM CST
ONLINE WITH THE LOFT LITERARY CENTER
What would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail? The word essay derives from the French infinitive essayer—"to try" or "to attempt.”
In this generative class, we’ll celebrate the messy beauty of our “attempts” rather than expecting perfection. We’ll explore what makes for vivid and moving personal and lyric essays, read and discuss the work of other writers, and write five “attempts” of our own.
Readings will include work by Melissa Febos, Roxane Gay, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Carmen Maria Machado, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Ira Sukrungrung, Ocean Vuong, Jesmyn Ward, and others.
You’ll receive detailed written feedback from the instructor on one of your essays, and we’ll end the series with a celebratory reading. Please note that there is no class 11/24.
Class format:
Each class will include:
A brief mindfulness exercise
Group discussion of an essay to learn from the writer’s style and craft
Writing from a prompt
Optional sharing with brief, supportive feedback.
Outcomes:
By the end of this six-week class, you’ll:
Understand the personal and lyric essay forms
Learn craft tools to make your essays shine
Read and discuss essays from other writers
Write five new essay drafts
Receive detailed feedback from the instructor on one of your essays
Harness your creativity through guided writing prompts
Celebrate the end of the class with a reading from your essays-in-progress
Connect with a compassionate community of other writers
Tuition:
$210 - Regular
$189 - Loft member
About the instructor:
Rebecca Jamieson has practiced writing and meditation for over fifteen years. She is a contributing editor to Isele magazine and her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including The Offing, Entropy, Hunger Mountain, Rattle, Lion’s Roar, Calyx, and Voicecatcher. Her chapbook of poems, The Body of All Things, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2017. Rebecca holds a BA in Writing, Mindfulness, and Psychology from Marylhurst University and an MFA in Writing & Publishing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives on traditional Ho-Chunk land in Madison, Wisconsin.