Short Story Workshop for BIPOC Writers

Class Description

This eight-week class is a safe, community-driven space designed to support the growth of writers of color who are familiar with craft concepts and/or have previous workshop experience. Based on culturally responsive, anti-racist models, this workshop reframes traditional methods of feedback around an equitable dialogue between writer and reader. The purpose of this approach is to promote agency, encouragement, and a more personally relevant understanding of craft for writers who may have felt frustrated, silenced, or tokenized in predominately white workshops. Students will be asked to draft at least one new short story, respond to their peers’ drafts, and prepare for craft lectures by reading renowned Writers of Color such as Edward P. Jones, Manuel Muñoz, and Jhumpa Lahiri.

The primary goal of this course is for each student to receive at least one round of workshopping, with the possibility of two depending on class enrollment. Within these workshops, students will receive written and oral feedback from both peers and the instructor based on the specific needs, wishes, and questions of the writer. By the end of this course, students will not only have new material for their portfolio but also a more culturally intimate relationship to craft as well as a supportive, relatable writing community to stay in touch with long after our eight weeks together.

*This class is intended for writers who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), while stories that deal with themes of race, culture, and heritage are certainly welcome, they’re not required for this workshop.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

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