Writing What Haunts You presented by Haley Swanson

About this event

In this 90-minute, generative writing workshop, participants will explore how to transform a formative memory into a powerful written scene. We’ll begin with a short discussion of scene vs. summary in memoir, followed by writing prompts, drafting time, and pair/group sharing. Participants will leave with a developed scene rich in sensory detail and emotional impact—perhaps the start of a personal essay or longer memoir. All experience levels are welcome; bring a notebook or laptop, and come ready to write and share. About the instructor: Haley Swanson is a writer and co-editor of Sex and the Single Woman: 24 Writers Reimagine Helen Gurley Brown's Cult Classic (Harper Perennial, 2022). Her work has appeared in The Rumpus, Glamour, Electric Literature, Bustle, Creative Nonfiction, and elsewhere. She's received support from Disquiet International, an NES Artist Residency, and holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Following her career in book editorial at Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, she’s taught writing workshops for Catapult, Narratively Academy, and is a teaching artist for The New York Public Library. She’s at work on a novel and lives in Brooklyn. Register online only. 10 participants maximum. Must commit to 3 workshops.