WRIT52111 - Jumpstart Session: Your Life's Work

Course Description

"Your whole life is input for writing. Every time you have a conversation with someone, or overhear one, a part of you is filing things away for later use. The human mind is great at connecting things in weird and unlikely ways, and as a writer you cultivate that talent as much as you possibly can." –M.R. Carey

In this three-hour class, explore the creative value of cultivating your observational skills, viewing your experiences as fodder for your art, and simply being present to the day-to-day. To this end, students will spend class time writing and sharing work. We will examine a sampling of writers’ journals and discuss functional ways to introduce nontraditional journaling into our own writing practice. In addition, we will discuss the importance of both examining our own aesthetics and making peace with the way in which we use other people in our work.