The World and I: Reported & Researched Personal Narrative

Some of the most compelling narratives blend the personal with the reported, telling both an individual story and the story of the outside world. In this workshop, writers will examine narrative essays, research-informed creative nonfiction and investigative/immersive “stunt journalistic” memoir. We will practice field reporting and research skills, and we’ll look at exemplary works for structure, form and voice, including researched braids and politically informed, activist narratives. Readings will highlight a range of writers working in the genre, from Barbara Ehrenrich, Pico Iyer and Tracy Kidder to George Orwell, Lia Purpura and Sandra Tsing Loh. In addition to in-class and take-home exercises and readings, writers will work on and share an early draft of a researched / reported nonfiction narrative.

Open to nonfiction writers of all levels. This is a 6-week workshop, with a 2-hour session each week. Please prepare for approximately 3-5 hours of work between sessions, including time for your own writing.

This 6-week workshop meets on Thursdays from 6-8pm at LitArts RI on the following dates:

Thurs, Oct 29
Thurs, Nov 5
Thurs, Nov 19
Thurs, Dec 3
Thurs, Dec 10
Thurs, Dec 17
*Please note this workshop skips Thurs, Nov 12 and Thurs, Nov 26

About Your Teaching Artist

Ethan Gilsdorf (he/him) is the author of the award-winning memoir Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. His work appears in the New York Times, Washington Post, Esquire, Wired, O the Oprah Magazine, Huffington Post, Brevity, Electric Literature, Poetry, and The Southern Review, and has been named twice as “Notable” in Best American Essays. He teaches at GrubStreet, LitArts RI, Craft Talks, and the Solstice MFA Program; and teaches how to play Dungeons & Dragons.