Announcing our Spring 2023 classes! Join Shankar Narayan in a multi-genre workshop and Marianne Chan in a poetry craft class. More info about these classes are below, and you can browse the lineup of present and past classes here!
I've Drunk Your Poisoned Nectar: Writing with the Goddess with Shankar Narayan
8–Week Workshop:
Tuesdays 7:00 PM–9:30 PM ET
April 4th–May 23rd
Open to all writers of color
Hinduism’s Goddess tradition is arguably the most ancient among those of world religions, dating back many millennia to prehistoric times. More powerful than her male counterparts Shiva or Vishnu, the Goddess in Hindu mythology embodies the energy that animates all of creation. Whether known as Devi, Shakti, Durga, Kali, Uma, or by her thousands of other names, she encompasses within herself all aspects of the godhead—creation, preservation, and destruction. She slays demons amid oceans of gore, enacts cosmic transformations, and dispenses unending compassion for her devotees. She spans diverse and sometimes shocking visions of the divine feminine, yet also transcends gender, matter, and time entirely.
In this part-generative, part-analytical class, we’ll take a deep dive into the Goddess’s rich mythology and philosophy, deepening our understanding of the Goddess’s many aspects. Along the way, we’ll do deep reads of varied selections from the millennia of writings she has inspired—including scripture, poetry, treatises, and more. And we’ll use this rich inspiration to write our own Devi-animated pieces.
This course is for writers in any genre, of any experience level, and of any (or no) particular spiritual or faith background. Writers will leave with a Goddess-inspired writing toolkit, including resources for doing deeper dives into this inspiring mythology, many new writing starts, and a new community with which to continue their exploration.
Craft Class:
Saturday, 2:00–5:00 PM ET
April 8th
Open to all writers of color
Since ancient times, poets have been writing poems addressed to a beloved, a friend, an enemy, a muse, and so on. These poems take the form of an epistle or an apostrophe, a direct address to a person who is absent. As writers of color, how can we use the epistolary and apostrophic mode to speak directly to our own cultural and personal histories? In our time together, we will discuss examples of the apostrophic and epistolary poems and explore how these techniques of direct address allow writers to reckon with the past and the self. Participants will also have an opportunity to write a poem of their own.
All classes will take place on Zoom and the class times listed are in Eastern Time. There are scholarships available for each class and deadlines are listed on the individual course pages.
View our full selection of online classes on our Online Classes Page.
See you online!