For the first time ever, The Porch is bringing its creative writing workshops to Memphis! On Saturday, November 8, we’ll gather for a day devoted to writing, inspiration, and community. Two workshops at Crosstown Arts (10am–Noon and 1–3pm) will set the stage, and the celebration continues at 6pm with an evening reading at Novel bookstore. Our two teaching artists will share their work, and the night will open up into a community-wide open mic, co-emceed by Memphis poet and librarian Ashley Roach-Freiman and The Porch’s Director of Education, Yurina Yoshikawa. Join us for one workshop, both, or just the free evening event—and be part of this inaugural Memphis gathering.

On Writing the Hard Stuff: Finding the Balance between Trauma and Art - A Writing Workshop with Kendra Leigh Vanderlip // 1pm - 3pm, Crosstown Arts, Glassroom

‍Norwegian painter Edvard Munch once said, “Art comes from joy and pain, but mostly pain.”  Many artists create to heal from trauma, broadly defined here as personal experiences or the effects of systemic oppression. In this class, we will discuss writing about difficult experiences, exploring how personal narratives can foster healing, promote empathy, and spark meaningful change across multiple genres of writing. Additionally we will examine the relationship between art and the ethical choices we must make, practice those imperative writing skills with prompts that have us focus on scene, visual imagery and description, all while still protecting the writer. This class is open to writers of all genres.

If you are a student attending the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Southwest Community College, Christian Brothers University or other, reach out to yurina@porchtn.org to retrieve your discount code.

• In-Class Writing Lift: Light

• Homework: None

• Workshopping Drafts: None