Writing Motherhood

Class Description

This eight-week workshop is designed for writers working on essays or other nonfiction to engage in an ongoing, sustainable creative process. The class will focus on the mothering relationship as an integral part of human life. The writer's experience of motherhood—either mothering or being mothered—will serve as the source and subject for the work generated and polished during the course. We will have the space and structure for you to explore your unique voice and perspective as well as gather tools for developing your writing further.

Each week, you will bring with you a piece of nonfiction, a draft in any stage, to share with the class and fine-tune in a workshop environment the following week. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to generate new work based on in-class writing prompts, responses to readings offered outside of class, or your own ideas. Between meetings, you will read other participants' drafts and bring your comments and observations on them to the following workshop for discussion. Offering constructive feedback to others in a supportive environment will enrich your own creative process in turn.

Overall, class will include lessons on craft, in-class writing assignments, workshop, and discussion. Time outside of class will be spent reading and preparing feedback on other participants’ work, reading any relevant essays sent by the instructor, and generating your own writing. Beginning and established writers welcome.

Course readings include essays on craft and content, as well as poetry and excerpts from other work, by EJ Levy, Roxane Gay, Claire Dederer, Lucille Clifton, CJ Hauser, David Sedaris, and more.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

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 more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.