Fictionalizing the Family Archives

Workshop Description: What happens when we turn our attention to family and what our ancestors leave us? What is revealed when we reimagine shared history and that which we do not know? How can we honor the stories we inherit, while also incorporating our own perspectives?

In this 1.5-hour generative class, we will read, listen, and look closely at literary and visual work that engages family and heritage through innovative and surprising methods. Then, we will use our own family archives as a jumping-off point. “Fictionalizing” in the context of this class is loose, allowing for emotional truths, hybrid explorations, and a sense of play to take the lead. We’ll experiment with literary devices, forms, and perspectives to create evocative writing that is rooted in the real.

About the Presenter: Noelani Piters is a writer living in San Francisco. A recipient of fellowships from Indigenous Nations Poets, VONA, and PEN…