Writing Italy: Online Writing Workshop with Cheryl Chaffin

This writing workshop invites beginning and intermediate writers interested in autobiographical and/or fictional genres to compose their experiences about Italy—language, family, friends, travel, love of culture and particular places, history, political and/or social life. Students will find Italy as an inspiration and subject for writing. They will explore questions that help to generate writing, such as: how has Italy been a presence in your life; how has it shaped you and your thinking? We will find inspiration in excerpts by Italian writers in English translation and writers in English who have been drawn to Italy as expressed in their own writing. We will also share and respond to each other’s writing. There is no writing requirement for this workshop. Just bring some memories, perhaps a few photos and ideas, as well as a writing notebook and pen, or have a laptop with you.

Cheryl Chaffin is a professor of English composition, literature, and creative writing at Cabrillo College. She has facilitated writing groups and workshops throughout her career. In 2018 she travelled to Poland on fellowship with Auschwitz Jewish Center Fellows, and as a result of that trip published After Poland: A Memoir Because of Primo Levi. She is currently composing a book on her relationship with Italy as influenced by Italian writers and thinkers entitled The Bright Dream: A Writer’s Return to Italy. Cheryl is a dedicated student of Italian.