Writing as Discovery: From Feelings to Words

“How do we write about moments that defy easy explanation, like waking from a vivid dream that quickly fades or unexpectedly meeting a long-lost friend on a crowded street?” asks instructor Lauren Krauze. “Or how do we capture a late-night phone call about the passing of a loved one? In this class, we’ll dive into memories and experiences that may elude us, treating them as rich sources for creative exploration.” 

Each week in class we’ll develop new writing from prompt-driven exercises and hone our ability to observe and evoke what otherwise might go unnoticed or unsaid. Through reading writers including Stanislaw Lem, Helen Macdonald, Marie Howe, and Amy Leach, we’ll learn techniques for capturing and sustaining mystery and wonder on the page. Then we’ll apply these realizations to our own work, always with the goal to explore writing as a form of discovery rather than explanation. There will be opportunities to voluntarily share work with Lauren and the group for light, supportive feedback. 

“Prose writers and poets will all benefit from this class as it will help writers concretely convey what otherwise may feel mysterious, even ungraspable,” says Lauren. “The class will emphasize experimentation, play, and trust in one’s intuitive voice.”

About The Writing Salon's In-Person Classes

Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about your class. If you have any questions about in-person learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.