Narrative Essay Writing for Healing & Liberation | 4-Week Online Writing Workshop

Every Black woman we know is carrying at least one essay. This is the space where you finally write it. Narrative Essay Writing for Healing & Liberation offers a creative and sacred space for Black women writers to explore and harness the power of narrative essay writing as ritual, as a transformative and healing practice. Taught by Natasha Elle Thomas, a writer and healing arts practitioner, whose work has graced publications including The Hollywood Reporter, The Body is Not an Apology (TBINAA), Womanly Magazine, Kalfou: A Journal of Comparative and Relational Ethnic Studies, The Assisi Institute Journal: Memes & Memories, and more. Participants delve into the unique essence of this essay form, understanding its potency in telling our stories, reclaiming voices, disrupting dominant narratives, cultivating solidarity among us, and granting us greater freedom through authentic self-expression. Tailored to be expansive and inclusive, the course welcomes participants with diverse experiences and varying levels of expertise, ranging from beginners to advanced writers. It provides a balanced learning environment that is both rigorous and supportive, encouraging participants to delve deeply into their narratives. Over 4 weeks, participants will not only learn how to craft their own narrative essays but also explore the works of such Black women luminaries as Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, bell hooks, Angela Davis, Roxane Gay, Toni Morrison, as well as provocative works of Black women essayists published by midnight & indigo. The course aims to create a nurturing space where emotional engagement with the work is encouraged, and storytelling becomes a healing process. Active participation, open-mindedness, care, connection, and commitment to our work and to one another will be essential expectations for both the instructor and participants. 4 class sessions Sundays, September 6-27 1p-3p ET 10a-12p PT 12p-2p CT Seats are capped to keep this workshop intimate. Registration closes on Friday, September 4th, 48 hours before our first session, so Natasha can prepare for exactly who is in the room. At this time, to protect the confidentiality of the space and sharing of students' work, classes are not recorded. All class meetings will be held via Zoom. For more information on how to download or use Zoom, please click here.