What become possible when we reclaim the wisdom, stories, and dreams of the past in order to imagine a better future? AfroFuturism, which is rooted in the Akan principle of Sankofa, teaches us to "go back and reclaim it!" During this six-week workshop, participants will explore AfroFuturism as a tool for imagination, liberation, and world-building.
Through readings, discussion, and creative writing prompts, participants will create Afrofuturistic fiction, poetry, memoir, or hybrid works that connect lessons from the past to possibilities for the future.
No prior writing experience is necessary. All you must have is an active imagination!
Michelle Donice is the author of The Other Side of Through (Balboa Press) and Following Your North Star (Atmosphere Press). She is a graduate of Sierra Nevada College’s MFA Program in Creative Writing (now part of the University of Nevada system). Her short fiction has been featured in Midnight and Indigo Lit, Free Spirit, Clockhouse, New Delta Review, and Flash Fiction for Flash Memory (Anchala Studios). Additionally, her writing has earned her placement in the following writing residencies and retreats: Mont Blanc/Chamonix Writing by Writers, Colgate Writers’ Conference, AWP Writer to Agent, Corporeal Writing’s Sitka. Seed. Self Generative Retreat, Chesapeake Writers’ Conference, Anaphora Arts Writing Residency, Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, Sewanee Writers Conference, the Hedgebrook Mother Tree Residency. Her short story “The Buffalo Soldier” was nominated for a 2025 Pushcart Prize. Michelle lives in Nashville with her husband and two dogs. She teaches yoga and writing and often incorporates themes of spirituality, African American culture, and women's empowerment in her fiction.
"The tone Michelle set for the workshop was perfect. We created very good symmetry as a group because of Michelle's tone, presence, and energy. She offered a lot. It was a beautiful workshop."
"This class was soul nourishing! I'm so glad to have been in attendance and have already spread the word. I look forward to another class hosted by Mrs. Donice!"
"I absolutely love Michelle's style, and her friendly and warm personality! I learned a lot, and hope to see her more!"
"Michelle was a very warm and engaging speaker who made space for each of us to express our needs, perspectives and experiences in the class. With a topic as charged as spirituality, she was an incredibly graceful and collaborative facilitator who was able to draw insight out of everything that came up in the room."
"I absolutely loved this class! Michelle did an amazing job creating a sacred space so that we could listen both for and to the words that emerged during this class. I left feeling inspired and grateful and ready to write more."
"Michelle was wonderful! I enjoyed this class and seeing how by stepping out of a comfort zone can bring new depths to my writing. The movement helped me reach into myself and understand more of what I was putting on the page. Highly recommend."
