Writing about Trauma: Turning the Awful into Art: Providence

Class Description

This seminar looks at why we are drawn to writing about difficult material and the often painful events that are turning points in our understanding of ourselves and others and the world around us. We will tackle questions about the difference between art and psychotherapy and examine strategies to engage the reader in this kind of material by looking at works by writers like Stanton Michaels and Mary Karr that do so effectively and artfully. We will also discuss the toll writing about trauma takes on us as writers and what we can do to lessen it by applying wellness practices to our writing process. In-class exercises will give us the chance to implement these practices and to share work with the group as a whole.

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.