we will follow the arc of our lifetimes from childhood, through our halcyon youth, to the moments of adulthood that changed us and made us who we are. Eventually, whether we’re there or not, we will cover the latter stage of life, covering personal stories, Oliver Sacks and read from a selection of obituaries. We’ll help each other bring the journey of our lives to the page through readings, discussions and generative prompts.
During the four classes we will also dissect and discuss the anatomy of the personal essay from start to finish, touching on the most crucial elements of craft along the proverbial life of the essay. We’ll use our time to explore the nonfiction form through mini-craft lectures and in-class workshops, as well as short reading assignments.
Each week will reflect both a time in our lives as well as a component of the personal essay. We will start with our childhood, read excerpts that speak to that part of our lives, while also analyzing opening sentences and discussing related craft topics such as billboarding and epigrammatic leads. And from there, we’ll follow the lifespan and the essay to their ends.
In
Writing Our Lives
Classes
Week One - The Places That Made Me
Family, Place, Home, and the Foundational Stories of Me
Week Two - The Salad Days
Coming of age, Independence, Freedom, and the Beautiful Struggle
Week Three - When Everything Changed
Transformation Through Marriage, Parenthood, Work and the Tragedy of Loss
Week Four - Our Lives So Far
Reflections, Release, Meaning, and the Unsentimental End
A discussion on the theme of the week
5 minute warm up exercise
A short reading from the assigned work
Discussion on reading
[Break]
Craft Lesson/Exercise
Prompt & Writing (10-15 minute)
Sharing & Workshop
Weekly Format
Writing Our Lives
In
You will generate new work, acquire fresh ideas for existing and old projects, discover new tools for writing, editing, and rewriting, and have the opportunity for one-on-one editorial feedback. You’ll also gain experience sharing your work, receive guidance on publishing in literary magazines, leave with a curated reading list, and become a part of a warm and supportive community.
The Instructor
Anthony Emerson is a sixth generation Mainer who lives in New York City with his wife and dog. He’s a second year MFA candidate in fiction at NYU, the assistant managing editor of Washington Square Review, and the founding editor of Judy Magazine and Bird Cig (formerly Smoking Bird zine). His nonfiction has been published in Maudlin House, Appalachia Journal, The Dewdrop and elsewhere.
