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We are currently living a story whose ending is unknown. As tellers and keepers of story in many forms, we have the rare opportunity to document this sliver of human history as it unfolds.

This workshop will explore ways of gathering material from real life (while social distancing) and shaping it into stories, especially those of spiritual significance. We'll focus on nonfiction forms (literary, audio, or visual), with strategies hopefully applicable to other genres and mediums. We hope everyone will bring perspectives and experience to share from their own creative practices. A list of prompts will be provided beforehand to jumpstart the brainstorming process, and participants are invited to come prepared with an idea. We'll work as a group to help shape those ideas and draft plans to go out into the (virtual) field. What’s produced may be for personal memory-keeping, submitting to an archive project, or saved as creative material for a later time. There’s also an opportunity to share your work at our virtual open mic in June.

RSVP: If possible, please try to register by April 22 so we can send you the prompts ahead of time. But you're still welcome to register up until the event begins!

Details: A link invitation will be emailed to registrants before the event.

Leaders:

William Wan has spent the last 15 years as a writer at The Washington Post and has been reporting nonstop on the coronavirus these past two months. He believes in the power of story to change people and society, and in the sacred bond that comes with asking someone to share their story with others.

Julie Wan writes memoir, essays, and other forms of literary nonfiction. She has spent many years documenting her family’s history, spanning from pre-revolutionary China to her parents’ experience of the Vietnam War as Saigon natives.