Some stories can’t be contained by the tidy linear narrative—they need to spill out into multiple streams, running alongside each other, telling more than one story at a time, bringing in research, art, and other outside references in order to make themselves clear. Braided essays are complicated and layered, like real life; built on association and resonance rather than a singular A-to-B storyline. They can also let us approach stories from our lives that are overwhelming—either emotionally or conceptually. Refracting and weaving can present new entry points into writing about experiences that may have felt intimidating or murky when appraised head-on.

This course will guide you through the process of writing a braided personal essay that incorporates research, criticism, and/or other external elements—from generating an idea and identifying the various strands, to developing those strands, and, of course, braiding them together. 

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This class consists of exercises and assignments for you to complete on your own time; two two-hour meetings during which we’ll work through a few additional exercises together, discuss and dissect example essays, and talk about the elements that make a braided essay work; and two shorter “check-in” meetings to discuss your progress on the larger assignments, and address any questions that come up for you during the process. All meetings start at 3pm EST. 

Important Notes:

• Class meetings will not be recorded. Just like an in-person class, if you miss a session, you’ve missed it. Please plan to attend at least both full class meetings, on 3/2 and 3/16. The two shorter check-ins on 3/9 and 3/23 are optional.  

• This is a generative seminar, with no workshopping component. You will not get direct feedback on your completed draft, but you will have plenty of opportunities to discuss your progress and ask questions along the way.

• The last day to register is 2/23.