Sometimes true stories take us back to difficult places.
Some of the most powerful works of nonfiction are the ones that take us to the writer’s darkest corners. But how do you craft art from trauma? Join us as we “take a look under the hood” at what’s working in some well-known writings about traumatic events and learn how to apply these techniques to our own difficult stories.

In this class, students will

Develop an understanding of memory formation and the brain’s reaction to trauma.
Learn techniques for handling imperfect memories.
Practice strategies for writing about difficult characters.
Articulate the difference between art and therapeutic journaling. (Hint: it’s about prioritizing mental health over literary output.)
Learn about the different modes of scene, summary, and analysis and when to use each.

TAKE THIS CLASS IF

You’re a writer who excels at examining a story for its craft as well as its impact.
You’re stuck in how to write about a difficult event or period.
You’re open to trying new techniques for inhabiting a difficult part of your story.
You’re a stickler for the truth, but recognize that it gets messy.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT RACHEL’S CLASSES

“The workshop was incredible and enlightening from a very refreshing viewpoint!”
“I rarely rate everything “excellent”….but this class deserved it.”
“Rachel was so engaging and presented so much useful material that I could have listened to her for 3 more hours.”

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Starnes is the author of the critically-acclaimed memoir The War at Home: A Wife’s Search for Peace and Other Missions Impossible. She received her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from California State University, Fresno and her BA from the University of Texas. Her essays have appeared in The Colorado Review, Front Porch Journal, and O Magazine. Born in Austin, Texas, she has lived in Scotland, Texas, Saudi Arabia, Florida, California, and Nevada.