The Armenian Authors’ Club (Agump / Akumb)
This fall workshop, spanning eight weeks from late October through mid-December, will be a collaborative, intersectional space for six to eight Armenian (and honorary Armenian*) writers to work on book projects, to develop new work and an outline or general plan to move forward. At a time when support for our work and voices may feel limited, as a minority within a minority currently resisting violence and erasure, we will support each other through reading, writing, active listening, and community. An initial meeting will decide our path, including books we will read together to draw inspiration and ideas about structure, followed by outlining sessions and workshop meetings. The final meeting will decide a path moving forward.
- Week 1: Consider excerpts from Matthew Salesses’s Craft in the Real World and Cathy Park Hong’s essay “Stand Up” to decide craft topics to explore. Decide on two to three books by Armenian and SWANA authors to read together.
- Weeks 2- 4: Read and discuss two to three books and take inspiration from them to work with generative writing prompts, producing new work each week and reporting on our progress.
- Week 5: Guidance and support for outlining our books
- Weeks 6-8: Workshopping members’ work, ten to twenty double-spaced pages.
- Week 8: Plans will be made to decide how to continue to get the support you need to complete your project.
Open to writers of all genres. Capped at 8 students. Minimum 6 students to run.
Meets once weekly on Zoom, Sunday afternoons 1 to 3 pm eastern time, October 27 – December 15, 2024.
*honorary Armenian – a term an Armenian bestows upon a friend of any background who humbly shows committed love, knowledge, and interest towards Armenia, Armenians, Armenian culture, etc. Also, the term Armenian used here includes all folx with Armenian heritage who feel they aren’t “Armenian enough”, a term borrowed from the wonderful podcast of the same name by Lara Vanian-Green.
You might be a good fit for this workshop if you have a book idea to develop or have been drafting a book but need resources and guidance to continue. Writers of intermediate and advanced level, or who have completed several short pieces, are welcome.
Suggested cost: $240
No one turned away for lack of funds, sliding scale and payment plans available, and donations of any amount accepted: please inquire with your registration.
Many mainstream literary organizations charge $500 to $600 for similar classes. If you can afford to add on a donation of any amount – $50 to $100 is suggested as a community booster – it will help make it possible for a worthy student who cannot afford to pay the full cost to be able to attend.
To apply: please email nancyagabian@gmail.com with a couple of paragraphs describing your interest in the class and the project you would like to work on along with a short writing sample of 5 to 10 double-spaced pages of prose or 5 to 10 pages of poetry.