Writing Your Family History - Remote!

We’ve all heard stories of our parents’ and grandparents’ lives—tales of survival, of perseverance, of flourishing amid unimaginable circumstances. We’ve also heard quieter tales of the simple, beautiful art of being human in another time. But what can we do with these stories aside from tell them over and over to others? How do we create deeper meaning from the lives of those in the generations behind us?

For this six-week workshop, you will bring with you one or two cherished pieces of family lore and learn how to bolster them with structure, weave in your own insights and wisdom, and begin to transform them into polished pieces of nonfiction that you can offer to others in a new way. Class will include in-class writing exercises and discussion as well as 2-3 opportunities to bring a draft to the group for workshop. These workshops, led by the instructor, will offer support and constructive feedback to help you complete your work. As such, after the first week, you are asked to read one assigned published essay each week in addition to drafts of other participants’ work, for which you may prepare brief comments for feedback and discussion. Beginning and established writers welcome.

Please note: Class does not meet November 11th.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! 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! 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 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:

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.