Scroll. Comment. Ping. Add to cart. Each day thousands of pieces of information fight for our attention, but as creatives we can't help but be drawn to the offbeat: the lizard skittering on the sidewalk, the smell of a hospital's elevator, the sound of the word “bludgeon.” Though we might not write every day, it’s possible to view our perspectives—what we absorb, what fascinates us—as the beginning of the creative process.

In this two-hour class, we’ll cover what mindfulness means and how being more present might enhance our creative work. We’ll read detail-rich, sensory-alive excerpts from writers across genres like Nickole Brown, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, and Dorothy Allison. We’ll investigate our camera rolls, learn a mindfulness journaling method, and reacquaint ourselves with the mysteries of an everyday object. By the end of our time together, we will have the tools to be more present, track what our senses are drawn to, and translate our attention into inspiration.

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• In-Class Writing Lift: Medium

• Homework: None

• Workshopping Drafts: None