All human experiences have one thing in common: they involve a body. Bodies are abundant sources of detail and memory, and the unique ways in which they feel, function, and are perceived by others add layers of richness to how we tell our own stories. In this class, we will talk in-depth about how to make our fiction and creative nonfiction come alive with somatic detail, the mechanics of writing sensation and movement, and cliche versus authenticity in describing the bodies of others--as well as take close looks at work that centers bodies, including disability and illness narratives, events of desire or violence, and physical aspects of identity. In addition to craft discussions, students will engage in short generative exercises in class and have the opportunity to workshop at least one essay or excerpt from a larger nonfiction project.

Instructor: Allison Darcy

Dates: Begins Wednesday, May 14 and runs every Wednesday for six weeks

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Level: Beginner and above

8 seats max

Location: Letters Bookshop, 116 W. Main St., Durham

$615: true price

$349: base price

$374, $399, $449: donate an extra $25, $50, or $100 to our scholarship fund

(Returning students receive 10 percent off).

A note on pricing:  the “true price” reflects the true cost of the class, which includes paying a fair wage to our staff and instructors, rental fees for the Redbud headquarters and for the community spaces where we host our classes, website and administrative/commerce fees, outreach and advertising to spread the word about our offerings, and the coordination and administration for our community classes, which serve people who could not otherwise access creative writing. We’re not a university or a large corporation and that means we don’t have an operating budget we can rely on; we’re proud to be a small, local, women- and minority-run business that is passionate about bringing the transformative power of the arts to our community. Your tuition helps Redbud with the critical work of keeping the arts accessible to the public. 

We also offer students a chance to donate to our scholarship fund. At check-out, you will be given the option of choosing a donor price. If you choose one of these prices, the extra $25, $50, or $100 will go towards scholarships for students who would not be able to afford our classes otherwise.  Thank you in advance for considering making a contribution to inclusivity and access!

Read the fine print, including our refund policy, here.