Workshop

Hosted by: Society for Humanistic Anthropology

Of interest to: Appropriate for any level or area: expert creative writers or beginners, literary specialists or generalists, students through career levels through retired, academic or practicing/applied, and those concerned with any topic area or interest they wish to communicate effectively about.

Primary Theme: Academic Career Development, Practicing / Applied Career Development, Humanistic Anthropology, Technical Skill Development

(5-0555) Crafting Creative Nonfiction (SHA Writing Workshop)

Level of Audience: Beginning

Click here to register for this workshop and add it to your existing Annual Meeting registration.

This workshop describes the flexible genre of creative nonfiction and explores ways in which it can be employed to express anthropological insights in accessible ways to reach multiple audiences. We explore the story elements and writing choices which make these pieces work effectively, considering a wide range of possible formats, including: narrative structures, creatively framed stories, lyric essays, and journalistic style essays. From her experience as the Creative Nonfiction Editor at Anthropology and Humanism, presenter Julia Offen addresses confusion about the genre and common problems writers encounter in their work. Including writing exercises, this workshop assists participants in developing effective creative prose and gives practical advice as participants work through their story ideas. Prior experience with creative writing is not necessary.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the genre of creative nonfiction literary writing and recognize how it can be used for anthropological writing.
• Identify key techniques and strategies of creative nonfiction writing.
• Produce a short written sample exploring the creative possibilities of their own anthropological work, which they can then develop further.

Organizer(s)

• Julia Offen

  Independent

Workshop Presenter(s)

• Julia Offen

  Independent