Writing About Religion

Religion ranks right up there with sex and money as a taboo topic at cocktail parties, but faith—finding it, losing it, fighting wars over it, or having nothing to do with it—provides rich fodder for writers. In this three-hour seminar, we’ll analyze essays of varying length about religion by authors such as Dani Shapiro, Bret Lott, and others, and pose questions for discussion. What does it take to craft a successful essay about religion? How do you avoid sounding preachy? Where can you pitch your articles and essays on religion? Which topics resonate with literary journals, magazines, and even national parenting blogs that pay? The seminar, open to writers of all levels, will include a writing exercise with religion as the focus and brainstorming of ideas.

Part of GrubStreet's Special Topics in Nonfiction, a group of classes dedicated to exploring different craft elements of creative nonfiction. For more class offerings, click here.