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Meet THe Team
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“What would you write if you weren’t afraid?”― Mary Karr, The Art of Memoir
This generative workshop will encourage deep exploration of the stories and memories that have helped shape our lives. The class is open to both writers who attended the previous series and to those who have not. We will read and discuss short memoirs available online or emailed as PDFs as examples of how to use prose to “show” your story through scene and description and to “tell” it through reflection. Readings will include those by Natasha Trethewey and James Baldwin , as well as craft essays and pieces from lesser-known memoirists publishing in journals today.
Craft and revision prompts will help put these learnings to use. A pre-class writing prompt will get us started; activities will include in-class writing and sharing (including one feedback group) as well as between class writing and reading assignments.
• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium
• Homework: Required
• Workshopping Drafts: Intensive
Pauletta Hansel is a poet, memoirist and teacher. Her ten books include Will There Also Be Singing? (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, 2024); Heartbreak Tree (Madville Publications, 2022), which won the Poetry Society of Virginia’s 2023 North American Book Award; and Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017) winner of Berea College’s Weatherford Award in Poetry. Her writing has been featured in Cincinnati Review, Oxford American, Rattle, Appalachian Journal, Still: The Journal, Verse Daily and Poetry Daily, among others. Pauletta was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate and was 2022 Writer-in-Residence for The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
"Pauletta is both a master storyteller and a terrific teacher!"
"Pauletta was a wonderful instructor. She opened up the genre of memoir, and I’d love to take another class with her!"
"Pauletta's extensive knowledge of the subject and her gentle, sincere, and positive guidance was truly a life-changing experience. She made sure everyone was welcome and got to speak. She encouraged questions. She's such a skilled and caring teacher."
