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“Who would you communicate with if you could reach across time and space?” asks instructor Kerry Muir. “A child yet to be born, a beloved friend, a parent now gone? Our prose takes on a strikingly intimate quality when we write with a specific recipient in mind—either with an eye towards instructing that person, as an expression of gratitude, or as a way to resolve unfinished business.”

Mary Louise Parker refers to her memoir Dear Mr. You as “a collection of thank-you notes” to the men in her life—among them her father, her first love, and the orderly who delivered her baby. Ta-Nehisi Coates began writing Between the World and Me as a letter to his teenage son to help him navigate a world fraught with racial injustice, and ended up weaving personal story, American history, and even facts and figures into a lyrical, compelling book-length narrative.

In this workshop, participants will explore the rich possibilities of the letter writing-form, engaging in a series of in-class writing exercises and optional take-home assignments to get them generating their own missives, which then may become essays, a longer chapbook, or the opening chapter of a memoir. For guidance, we’ll read selections from Coates and Parker, as well as short passages from Karl Ove Knausgaard’s Autumn.

Beginning, intermediate and experienced writers are all welcome -- anyone can write a letter!

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Instructor

No Instructor Specified

Schedule
  1. Saturday, February 22, 10:30am-1:00pm
  2. Saturday, February 29, 10:30am-1:00pm
  3. Saturday, March 07, 10:30am-1:00pm
  4. Saturday, March 14, 10:30am-1:00pm
  5. Saturday, March 21, 10:30am-1:00pm
Reviews
  • Kerry's enthusiasm was contagious and she encouraged each student, while helping them see how to improve their work. She created a friendly and supportive atmosphere through group discussion, and suggested further readings.

    Chris
  • The concept [of the class] proved to be very freeing for me, esp. when dealing with difficult personal matters. It allowed the subject to be dealt with from enough of a distance to be accessible. It opened things up in general and soon the prompt was less necessary as I started writing on a specific topic. And that is what Kerry told us to feel free to do. She is a brilliant teacher. For me, she gave me everything I needed; structure and freedom to go beyond. I can't wait for my next class with her.

    Marilynn M.

Details

Start:
Saturday, February 22, 2020 @ 6:30 pm PST
End:
Saturday, March 21, 2020 @ 8:00 pm PST
Cost:
$295.00
Event Category:

Venue

Berkeley
2121 Bonar St, Studio D, 2nd Fl
Berkeley, CA United States
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Cancellation Policy

10 days or more before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 10% fee OR a refund minus a 20% fee.

3-9 days before the start date for a class, the registrant will receive a credit minus a 20% fee OR a refund minus a 30% fee.

2 days or less before the start date for a class, the registrant will not receive a credit or a refund.

The Writing Salon cannot offer refunds, credits, or makeup sessions for classes a student might miss.

In the event of an emergency, we may consider a refund or credit, whether partial or full. We review these requests on a case-by-case basis, and we ask that you notify us as near as possible to the start date for the class.

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