Summer

Experiments in Experience (Nonfiction/Memoir)

18+

Expand your repertoire of nonfiction techniques and strategies in this workshop that encourages you to deepen your practice.

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Overview

Nonfiction has the potential to be something more than what readers expect, and every writer has a variety of choices to make in determining what shape to craft their work depending on the subject. A profile of an artist may include the author’s interactions with the subject; reportage might be interrupted by the personal. A book of one’s dreams can be designated a “dreamoir”; a text of literary or social criticism may contain memoiristic elements. In each class we’ll look at some specific examples of “subgenres” that fall under the umbrella of nonfiction, and we will generate fresh, new work. Writers will treat each exercise as an experiment and receive feedback and revision strategies on the written work produced.

This class is for writers who want to expand their repertoire with regard to nonfiction techniques and strategies. This class is not for absolute beginners, but for those who wish to deepen their practice in the nonfiction genre.

Writing tools are mandatory for each class. Readings (excerpted from books, journals, magazines) will be provided to the class by the instructor.
Writers will bring in a 2 page excerpt or brief finished nonfiction piece to the first workshop as representative of the kind of writing they do, which we’ll share and talk about in the first class.

Additional Information

Wendy C. Ortiz is the author of Excavation: A Memoir, Hollywood Notebook: Essays, and Bruja: A Dreamoir, all three of which are newly available from Northwestern University Press. Bustle named Wendy one of “9 Women Writers Who Are Breaking New Nonfiction Territory.” Her work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Rumpus, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Her writing has appeared in BOMB Magazine online, The New York Times’ “Modern Love,” Pleiades, Joyland, StoryQuarterly, and FENCE, among others. She was awarded a Tin House residency in Fall 2022 to continue working on her next book. Her current project is Mommy’s El Camino, a weekly online newsletter. Wendy is a psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles.

www.wendyortiz.com
https://www.instagram.com/wendy.c.ortiz

The lab fee covers all workshop materials and printed handouts

Laptop, paper, and favorite writing utensils!

The program will begin with an all-program mixer on Sunday, 6/22, where you will have an opportunity to meet your classmates, as well as participants in other adult programs for the week.

Workshops will begin Monday morning, 6/23, with a brief orientation starting at 8:30 am. Workshops run daily from 9 am- 5 pm, with a lunch hour from 12-1 pm.

Monday nights will feature an opening reception at the Parks Exhibition Gallery, featuring work from our very own summer faculty!

Sessions may vary by instructor, but attendees can expect to participate in one-on-one instruction, daily craft talks, and evening lectures/ readings. Students can also attend readings and lectures hosted by our other programs on campus throughout the week.

The week will culminate with a participant reading and farewell reception.

The Native American Arts Center at Idyllwild Arts is thrilled to invite Indigenous writers to participate in the 2025 Writers Week. Fellowship applications can be accessed using the links below. The last day to apply is Friday, April 18, 2025
Application for Poetry Fellowship
Application for Fiction/Creative Nonfiction/Memoir Fellowship

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Experiments in Experience (Nonfiction/Memoir)

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