Writing Trauma

Many of us write what haunts us—in order to heal, discover, expel, make meaning of, celebrate survival, and/or reach for connection. In this program, we will study writing about trauma and its impact. Trauma will be defined as interpersonal, social, systemic, historical, intergenerational, secondary, physical, and psychological. We’ll study writing about trauma experienced as a result of systemic racism, white supremacy, colonialism, classism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, ableism, ageism, war, and more. We’ll write about the impact of trauma on people, communities, the world around us, and also ourselves. This is primarily a writing class, but the study of trauma will be part of how we approach writing. We’ll study and write poems, stories, and spoken word. We’ll read poems, stories, essays, scholarly literature, and we’ll watch videos of spoken word and comedy. Students will assemble a collection of writing related to trauma, healing, and resilience. If you are interested in writing, and social and psychological healing through the arts, this program is for you. This program will be taught with a trauma-informed lens, and is specially designed to support those living at the intersections of identities and lived experiences.