The art of lyric essay is a mysterious one. A hybrid form between poetry and prose, the lyric essay excels in taking on the ineffable, that which escapes language and slips into experience; that which takes in the small and builds the gigantic; that which whispers at the edge of speech. The lyric essay, at its best, is a backdoor into diffuse topics, but first one must overcome the danger of dissipation.

Join us over Zoom for Architectures of Resonance: Writing the Lyric Essay with Yanyi on Sunday, August 22nd, from 1:00 PM–4:00 PM ET. In this craft workshop, Yanyi will share with the participants the structures that have aided his own practice of lyric essay. We will answer, through a lecture, close-reading, and in-class discussion, questions around how to plan and construct lyric essays. What are the possibilities of the form? When should a piece become a lyric essay? How does one write a lyric essay, and what are some pitfalls one might run into? Participants will leave this workshop with a set of tools and prompts with which to consider their own burgeoning or ongoing lyric essays.

This craft class is open to all writers of color. Registration is now open, and scholarships are available. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, July 30th. See the class page for more information.

To see all of our spring classes, visit kundiman.org/online-classes.