Upcoming Workshops, Readings, and Events.
Whether you’ve never written creatively before or you’re a more experienced writer looking for a recharge, your mission in this course is simple: devote three hours a week to your writing. With an eye on craft and openness to the muse, we will read and discuss short pieces, including poetry, essay, and fiction.
In class, we will discuss the process of writing with a focus on sustainable writing practices, creative play, writer's block, creative community, reading for inspiration, and revision as generation. Potential readings include works by Lucille Clifton, Sandra Cisneros, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Fatimah Asghar, and others.
At the end of six weeks, you’ll leave class with a fresh set of drafts, new ideas to keep you writing, meaningful connections with fellow writers, and a stronger sense of your own voice on the page.
The MFA personal statement can be one of the hardest tasks of a writer's career — not because the form is complicated, but because it asks you to articulate something most writers have never quite put into words: why you write, what you want from a program, and what you're bringing to the table. This crash course is designed to make this process less daunting.
We'll have an honest conversation about what admissions committees are actually looking for in terms of content, and what tends to get in the way of an otherwise strong statement. We'll cover practical matters of length, structure, and tone, and then we'll get to work. Much of our time together will be devoted to drafting, with an opportunity for immediate feedback. Writers will leave with a working draft, a to-do list, a clear plan for moving forward, and resources to support the rest of the application process.
Curious about one-on-one creative writing support? Learn more about writing coaching here.
Past Readings & Events
“Creating and Sustaining a Satisfying Writing Life.” WriteAngles Conference. Northampton, MA (2024).
Literary Reading & Open Mic for Palestine/UNRWA. Bookends, Florence, MA (2024).
Conversation with Ani Gjika. Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA (2024).
“Women, Life, Freedom: Iranian Writers Reading & in Conversation.” RAWIFest+Mizna 2023. Minneapolis, MN (2023).
RAWIFest+Mizna 2023 Reading. Minneapolis (2023).
The Elemental Salon. Florence, MA (2023).
The Thirsty Lab Reading. Zoom (2023).
2022 Edith Wharton / Straw Dog Writers-in-Residence Celebration. Lenox, MA (2022).
AGNI Launch of Issue 95. Goethe-Institut Boston. Boston, MA (2022).
QTWOC + QPOC Winnipeg. Zoom (2022).
Radius of Arab American Writers Festival (RAWIFest). Zoom (2021).
Poetry Reading with Fatemeh Shams. Blacksburg, VA (2019).
Contemporary Iranian-American Creative Nonfiction. University of Maryland Summer Language Institute Graduate Education Panel (2018).
Past Workshops
Creative Writing Workshops: Introduction to Creative Writing (12-week class), Introduction to Creative Nonfiction (12-week class), Jumpstart Your Writing: Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction (6-week class), Introduction to Poetry (6-week class), Space & Time for BIPOC Writers (12-week class), Poet Tea: Making & Writing about Tea (3-hour class), Eat the Apple: Writing Sensual Experiences (3-hour class), Beloved: How to Write a Love Letter (3-hour class), Who Let the Dogs Out: Writing About Pets (1-hour class)
Arts Business Workshops: Submitting to Literary Markets & Magazines (3-hour class), Artist Residencies 101 (2-hour class), Fund Your Writing: Fellowships, Residencies, and Grants (3-hour class); MFA Application Crash Course (3-hour class), Writing the MFA Application (4-week course) Cultivating Sustainable Writing Practices (3-hour class); Finding Your Literary Community (3-hour class)
Teaching Artist Professional Development: Teaching Artist Summer Camp: Cultivating a Teaching Philosophy (6-week class)
There are no upcoming events at this time.