This is a women’s creative nonfiction class. (Though we would not be writing fiction in this class, women could write autobiographically in prose or poetry.) The class would be capped at four students so that everyone would have a chance to discuss their writing and others’ writing every week, and to create a class dynamic based on mutual support. Everything that is brought up in class is confidential.

We would begin each class with writing from a prompt. If women wanted to read/talk about what they wrote, they could. Then we would discuss the week's reading. We would take a brief break halfway through the two-hour class. After break, everybody who wanted a critique could get an oral critique in class.  I would also provide written comments on women’s work.

Our required books would be Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak About Health Care in America, an anthology of narrative essays edited by Amanda Crowell Stiebel and myself. We would also use Writing True by Sondra Perl and Mimi Schwartz. These books would help with both craft and the struggles of authentic self-expression. Occasionally I might also suggest you read something online. We would read writing about mental, emotional, and physical illness, as well as addiction and the challenges of being a caregiver. Grief is also something from which we can heal, and we would address that.

The class would meet online on Sundays, from August 7th-Sunday, October 23rd, on Zoom. That would be from 12-2 Pacific Time. The tuition would be $380. For more details, contact colleenbethmckee@gmail.com