WDtS Online: The Art of the Letter Revisited

This class is full.

James Balwin’s The Fire Next Time comes to us in the form of a letter. Rainer María Rilke’s correspondence with a young poet was published after his death and is still widely read today. An entire movie was constructed on the basis of Emily Dickinson’s letters to her sister-in-law (and lover?). The open letter enjoyed a heyday in 2020, as people left their jobs in record numbers. Letters can carry amazing literary weight. Though it can seem like the art of them is a lost one, people do of course still write them, and they can deliver a serious literary punch—the fact that they are addressed giving them a unique intimacy. In this drop-in conversation and generator, we’ll read some famous letters and construct our own under their influence. This is part two of a multi-week class that was offered in the spring, but you don't need to have been present in that one to take this class and writers of all levels of experience are welcome!

Who Should Register?

Write Down the Street has a special focus on making the creative writing workshop more accessible to those who face challenges due to cost, language skills, lack of access to transportation, and other barriers. We believe that all voices must be spotlighted with the range and fullness they deserve.

These programs are offered tuition-free thanks to the support of generous donors who are committed to our mission of ensuring all voices are heard.

About GrubStreet Remote Classes

GrubStreet will be hosting all of our classes remotely from now through the end of the summer. We’ve decided as a staff that the best thing we can do for our community is to follow the advice of public health experts, and participate in the social distancing that’s recommended to help slow the spread of disease. You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! You’ll receive an email from your instructor on the day your class is scheduled with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information. 

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below: