Still living through the aftershocks of the Pandemic, and the growing pandemic of loneliness, we are writers who exist in a world continually afflicted by change, confusion, and loss. In exploring the art of vulnerability in the personal essay, we can begin to envision how we can compose and embody a perspective and voice that transforms vulnerability into a shared experience of possibility. By writing personal essays through inventive prompts, sharing our writing in groups, and discussing a few personal essays shaped by vulnerability (say by Joy Castro, Helen Macdonald, and Peter Orner), our class will explore and develop techniques for writing those difficult, confusing, and nebulous experiences we are compelled to express. Perspective, tone, word choice or syntax, imagery, detail, and implication are a few key elements we’ll consider, as we inhabit our own vulnerabilities and take artistic risks.
Fred Arroyo is the author of Sown in Earth: Essays of Memory and Belonging, which was shortlisted for 2021-2022 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. He is also the author of Western Avenue and Other Fictions, and The Region of Lost Names. His writing has appeared in the anthologies Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing and The Colors of Nature: Essays on Culture, Identity and the Natural World. Fred recently completed a book of poems, Emigrant Creek and Other Songs, and is working on a collection of short fictions.
"I cannot say enough good things about Fred. He is not only knowledgeable, offering multiple reading recommendations in every class, but he is inspiring by sharing his own work and kind in his encouragement of students at all levels. Perhaps the best thing about Fred's class leadership is his willingness to forgo his plan/syllabus to allow participants' questions and experiences to take the class in unpredictable directions. I would definitely be interested in taking another class from him because he made me feel like I could really be a writer."
"Fred Arroyo absolutely taught us the value of bravely writing with vulnerability, and he taught us how to do it. Fred inspired us with an array of excellent examples. Then, with his writing prompts and assignments he quickly got us writing with vulnerability, and therefore, better. Because of the quick pace of this class we didn't have time to feel afraid to write. We just started writing. My writing improved 1000%. Not only that but I experienced more joy in the writing process than I ever had before. I feel optimistic that I can now finish my unfinished writing projects. Not that only that but I feel excited and confident to get cracking on them. Hoorah, Fred!"
"Fred is an incredibly engaging instructor - encouraging, constructive, and thoughtful in his feedback. I learned substantially from his commentary, readings, and ability to engage with vulnerability."
