ONLINE through Catapult
Mondays, 8:30-10:00 p.m. ET/5:30-7:00 p.m. PT
Apr. 8-May 27, 2019
$495
Our most powerful stories can be the most brutal to write, leaving us frustrated, traumatized, and stuck. What gets in the way? How can we push forward without damaging our mental and physical health? In this 8-week online nonfiction workshop for writers of any level, we’ll build a craft toolbox for unlocking urgent stories that have so far resisted telling.
The class opens with a lesson on how physiological trauma and shame interact with a writing practice, helping participants to pinpoint what’s getting in the way of their storytelling. Then we’ll dive into a series of craft exercises that help us uncover new layers and angles. How might adding research help to reframe and de-stigmatize what we’ve been through? How can embedding the personal within a cultural critique make it more resonant? We’ll play with chronology and braiding to discover overlooked narrative arcs, and we’ll seek beauty where it seems there shouldn’t be any. We’ll also bring a fearless eye to our characterizations, scrapping the flat black-and-white renderings we write to protect ourselves, in favor of contradictory and complex characters.
Through two workshops, one individual 15-minute meeting with the instructor, and weekly readings and exercises, writers will see their stories shift and break open. In our final week, the instructor will support students in thinking about the next steps for their essays.
Writers should feel comfortable bringing a wide range of difficult topics into this space—from personal illness to family secrets, from violence to natural disasters, from classism and racism to addiction—and should be prepared to treat their peers’ stories with empathy and respect.
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
- An understanding of how physiological trauma and social stigma interact with a writing practice
- A one-on-one conference with the instructor to discuss your work and chart a path forward
- Craft tools that can break down emotionally intimidating writing projects
- A supportive community for working on topically-difficult essays
- Two essays workshopped and ready for revision
- Access to Catapult's list of writing opportunities and important submission deadlines, as well as a 10% discount on all future Catapult classes
COURSE SKELETON:
Week 1: Introduction to the class, Workshop Scheduling, Mini-lesson on the Physiology of Trauma and Shame, Group Writing Process Check-in
Week 2: Exploding Structure (Or: How To Make Fragments Your Friends)
Week 3: Playing with Micro-Arcs, Workshop #1
Week 4: Chronology Part I, Workshop #2
Week 5: Chronology Part II, Workshop #3
Week 6: Finding Context through Research, Workshop #4
Week 7: Treating the Story Like A Reporting Mission, Workshop #5
Week 8: Self-Characterization, Group Reflection and Goal Setting, Workshop #6
“When I initially signed up for Kati’s class on writing trauma, called “Unlocking Tough Stories,” I noted that her syllabus incorporated some discussion on the physiology of trauma and how it impacts one’s writing practice. As a former mental health practitioner, I found this an encouraging start; indeed, Kati cultivated a safe space for writing about vulnerable topics. Moreover, she curated a reading list for our study of craft, and though I’m an avid reader, Kati still managed to introduce me to several new voices. Our readings reflected diversity, in authorship, content, and form—and Kati led our exploration of narrative craft with illuminating questions, the kind that facilitated deep conversation between participants. Kati’s craft assignments expanded my writer’s toolbox and introduced me to new ways of thinking about my own material. Her critiques of essay submissions were both thoughtful and generous—she is able to identify a writer’s strengths and seeks to understand the writer’s intention for each piece. I hope to study with her again in the future!”
“There are a lot of workshops out there to take, but one with Kati feels different and entirely more supportive than any other I’ve taken. Even in an online forum where we’re not face to face, she was kind, caring, helpful with our work, and incredibly smart. She knows writing and she knows trauma so having her guide us through the intersection of both was remarkable. I feel confident in a way I’m not sure I was before that I can tell my difficult stories.
She provides tools to use, not just a few red markings on a paper and some vague guidance. She’s a great instructor and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with her again.”