In this free class, offered twice annually, immigrants and refugees in the greater Nashville community learn how to transform life experiences into memoir, how to write fiction from the imagination, how to find a poem in a moment and make it grow, and how to play with language (and make languages play with each other). Creative writing can be a great form of stress relief, self-care and enjoyment, and sharing stories with others allows the safe exchange of unique perspectives and experiences. In this class, participants learn about the elements of writing, have time to write in class, and have the option to share writing with the class and instructor for feedback.
Note: No class on Monday, March 4.
Nina Adel [she, her] holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. Winner of the Bellevue Literary Review’s 2020 Buckvar Prize for her lyric essay "Refugere," Nina’s work has been published in Flash Fiction Magazine, Moria, Breath and Shadow, matchbook, and many other publications. She is the recipient of a 2023 Yaddo artist residency and has received additional recognition in such diverse corners of the arts world as Glimmer Train, The Kerrville Music Festival, and Wolf Trap, among others. She is a Berklee-trained musician, craftsperson (owner of Blue Salamander Arts and Letters), and English professor, and is the editor of the recent anthology "A Lighthouse," a collection of immigrant voices from the Immigrants Write program, which she directs at The Porch. She lives in Nashville with her family.
"Nina was excellent. I was unfamiliar with the hybrid genre prior to this class, and she provided a clear framework. Her passion and expertise were evident. It was a great class!"
"Nina did an incredible job a feeling of community in an online setting. As a newcomer to the hybrid from, she created an environment where I could learn, but that was still relevant and interesting for more experienced writers."
"Nina is such a smart, kind and loving spirit. She facilitates learning in a gentle manner and at the same time inspires and sparks joy about this learning process. I love learning with her and my classmates."
