Class

6-Week: Finding Your Story, Telling Your Truth

Everyone leads a life that is important enough to write about. Everyone is an authority on something, whether that something is personal or something of importance in the larger scheme of things. Toni Morrison said, "I write the books I've always wanted to read." Pablo Neruda wrote an ode to his sox, and Tillie Olsen wrote, "I stand here ironing." Conversely, Ernest Hemingway wrote about bullfighting but never about his alcoholism, which probably would have been a more interesting topic.

Although we will focus on memoir in this class, individuals who have some experience with personal essay, travelogue, or narrative journalism are also welcome. Our inspiration will be your perspective and your questions about your experience, your world, and the larger world around you. The class will combine lecture, discussion, reading, writing exercises, peer workshop, and revision. By exploring our own stories, and the circumstances in life that help to weave them, we'll examine our relationship to the power of our own narratives and the choices we have to amplify our own, and others', lives and voices.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.