ONLINE: Randon Billings Noble defines the lyric essay as “a piece of writing with a visible/stand-out/unusual structure that explores/forecasts/gestures to an idea in an unexpected way.” This course invites prose and poetry practitioners to explore writing nonlinear essays, using new structures, incorporating reoccurring images, and circling themes. Diverse forms—the hermit crab essay, essays using collage-like elements, those using white space, and those that allow the reader more interpretative input—will be explored. We'll read from "A Harp in the Stars: An Anthology of Lyric Essays," edited by Randon Billings Noble. Each week, students will read one essay, then write their own based on different elements they discover in the sample essay, while writing about what is important to them. Students will email their essays to the instructor, who in turn will collect and forward them the day before class. Discussions will explore these essays in the spirit of kindness and curiosity. | Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 8.
