This six-week class will meet on Saturdays: September 7, 14, 21, 28, October 5, 12. Each session is 2.5 hours.
Beyond the bland thesis statements and five-paragraph structures of high school, the personal essay is a form full of play and possibility. In this six-week generative class, students will develop essay ideas and learn essential craft elements for telling their stories. We will discuss essay examples, write to prompts, and give and receive feedback on generated work. The goal is to learn, experiment, and gain confidence in writing personal stories in a safe and collaborative environment. By the end of class, students will have the opportunity to share their writing in ASAP’s Fall showcase.
This class has a graduation showcase on Monday, October 28, where participants can share their work with friends, family, and the community.
About the Instructor
Libby Kurz is a writer, nurse, and USAF veteran. She holds a BS in Nursing from UNC-Charlotte and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. Her work appears or is forthcoming in The Iowa Review, Ruminate, The Other Journal, Literary Mama, and Driftwood Press, among others. Her poetry was awarded first prize in the New Voices category of the Poetry Society of Virginia’s 2017 contest, and in 2019, Finishing Line Press published her poetry chapbook, The Heart Room, which chronicles her experiences working as a cardiothoracic nurse in Norfolk, VA. An excerpt from her memoir in progress won 2nd place in the The Iowa Review’s 2022 Jeff Sharlet Memorial Prize for Veterans, judged by Jerri Bell. She teaches poetry, memoir, and trauma writing workshops for The Muse Writers Center, Langley AFB, and the Wounded Warrior Project. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, three children, and 115lb lapdog. You can find her at www.libbykurz.com.
This class is produced in partnership with the Muse Writers Center.
