Class Description
Attention all writer-adventurers! Hankering to try out something you've never done before and write about your experiences in a gripping, entertaining, moving, and funny narrative? Whether you want rock climb, swing on a trapeze, embark on a quest for the perfect falafel, hike across Boston, conduct an experiment, investigate topic first-hand, go on a trip, or infiltrate a top-secret group, this workshop is for the writer who wants to try out narrative journalism --- immersion writing, also known as "gonzo" or "stunt" journalism.
First, we'll read, analyze, and be inspired by masters such as A. J. Jacobs, Barbara Ehrenreich, Bill Bryson, Robin Hemley, Daniel Nester, and writers for Salon and Slate. Then, students will learn, via small assignments and field exercises, the basics of personal field reporting, researching and interviewing, and learn the best techniques to tell a personal "gonzo" narrative. Next, students will design their own "stunt"—some trip/quest/experiment/investigation—and get out there and do it. After completing their field research, they'll write their wild and unpredictable experiences into stories, which we'll workshop. Great for adventurous souls wanting to write about travel, food, sports, self-improvement, pop culture, and politics, who want to interweave their own experiences with something they're passionate or curious about. Bring your hiking boots, scuba gear, frying pans, Advil, and waterproof reporter's notebooks.
*Note: There may be a break in the class meeting schedule after the first two classes to best accommodate outside class work.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.