You’ve probably heard the axiom that there’s healing power in telling your story (and “story” and “narrative” include lyric poetry, whose structure can be elliptical). I think the self is complex web made up of many narratives, not only those you tell yourself but those others tell about you, the voices of parents, teachers, friends, and society. 

If you’re skilled at and comfortable with one genre, it can be intimidating to experiment with other genres. I was intimidated by the idea of transitioning from poetry to prose until I had stories to tell that I couldn’t make into poems. “Content finds its form” is true and that it’s also true that form finds its content. The weekly writing games (“prompts”), reading, and discussion invite you to go into your creative space(s) with your senses alert. You’ll discover where each genre takes you and the healing power of your authentic voices. We will begin with open-genre reading and writing, then spend two weeks each on poetry, flash nonfiction, and flash fiction. The last week, we’ll devote to your final portfolio.