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Meet THe Team
In this four-week workshop, we will explore queer essays as a genre, reading essays by Carmen Maria Machado, Melissa Faliveno, Saeed Jones, Melissa Febos, Samantha Irby, Alexander Chee, and others. Together, we will consider how these writers challenge traditional forms and structures and how their work expands our understanding of what an essay can be. While there will be some discussion of queer theory, this class will primarily be focused on writing and utilizing queer authors' examples to guide our work. This class is open to writers of all levels, and no prior experience with queer theory is necessary. Together, we will create a supportive and challenging environment where we can explore our own writing and the work of others. You don't need to be queer to participate — all are welcome; however, absolutely no homophobic behavior, comments, or questions will be tolerated, so please come with respect for all genders, gender representations, and sexual orientations, as well as an open mind for how one's writing practice may be altered or influence by their queerness.
Note: No class on 11/26.
• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium
• Homework: None
• Workshopping Drafts: None
Amy Estes is a writer, storyteller, and educator from Sacramento, CA, and a dual-genre MFA candidate in fiction and non-fiction at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Amy’s essay writing has been featured on The Rumpus, Huffington Post, Catapult, and elsewhere. In 2022, she was a curated writer for Corporeal Khôra and her piece, “Won’t Someone Think Of The Women?” was nominated for Best American Essays. Amy’s humor writing has been featured on McSweeney's, Slackjaw, The Belladonna, Weekly Humorist, and others. In 2022, Amy was selected for the Kenyon Review’s Summer Residential Writers Workshops in the category of non-fiction, and is grateful to serve as a Peter Taylor Fellow at the 2023 Kenyon Review Summer Writer’s Workshop. Amy was also selected as a 2023 Lambda Literary Fellow in non-fiction.
When she's not teaching middle school English or online satire writing for Second City, Amy enjoys reading, vying for Genius status on the NYT Spelling Bee, drinking vanilla lattes, and spending time with her spouse (also named Amy!) and their two dogs, Hank and Olive. She shares too many photos of flowers at @amymelissaestes on IG/Twitter.
"I so appreciated Amy's experience in the genre of satire. Her confidence was great to see and to learn from. I would take any class Amy taught in the future!"
