506 Writing Disaster (ENGLISH)

Having written about two disasters (in THE LONELINESS OF ANGELS and WHAT STORM, WHAT THUNDER) whose scale of impact on the environment and humans within that environment combined the effects of natural disasters with man-made consequences, this is a workshop for those who would like to reflect and write about disasters and their impacts in their fiction. Think about a recent natural or man-made disaster (it can be a combination of both); you could also reflect on a disaster on a personal scale that you have experienced and wish to write about. Having done so, imagine a character from whose perspective you’d like to write and reflect on that character’s reaction to the event. Consider POV – will you be writing in the first (I), second (you), or third (s/he/they) person? What choices might your character be faced with? How will they and their relationships be tested? Jot down some notes about what you think you’d like to write about and bring these along to the workshop. You will be guided through a series of generative exercises to help you think about the kind of narrative you might generate that can speak about and to the human experience of weathering through disaster.

Instructor

Myriam J. A. Chancy