Thursday, April 11th, 2024

Live Seminar Via Zoom 7:00PM – 9:00PM Eastern

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Led by Alexis Buryk, a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and speaker with experience in writing, theater, film, and photography. She holds an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has taught at StoryStudio Chicago and Nashi Predky, a 2023 Ukrainian Genealogy conference. Her written work has been featured on stage in the virtual cabaret, Twentysomething (2020), online at Apartment Therapy, and in The Ukrainian Weekly, while her photographic work has been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Brides.

Learn more about Alexis in our Meet the Teaching Artist series.

Transform your rich family history into compelling narratives in this dynamic one-time Zoom seminar. This interactive workshop is designed to bridge the gap between the initial inspiration drawn from our ancestral tales and the concrete steps necessary to bring these stories to life, whether as factual accounts or imaginative fiction.

In this seminar, we'll uncover the narrative framework within your family stories, providing you with the tools and knowledge to shape these stories into engaging written works. You'll learn about the myriad ways to tell your tales, from the factual rigor of nonfiction to the boundless realms of fiction, and discover which genre best aligns with your vision and your subject matter's unique demands.

Our instructor, Alexis, brings firsthand experience from her own journey of converting her family saga into a novel, THE AFFAIRS OF HANNAH BRANT, which is currently under representation by Mina Hamedi of Janklow & Nesbit. Alexis's insights and enthusiasm for storytelling will guide you through the nuances of different writing genres, helping you to make informed decisions about how to present your family's legacy.

The seminar includes:

Genre Exploration: A comprehensive overview of various writing genres, their characteristics, and how they can serve your storytelling goals. Whether you're drawn to the authenticity of memoirs, the creative freedom of fiction, or the hybrid vigor of creative nonfiction, you'll gain clarity on the path that best suits your family narrative.

Generative Writing Exercise: This is a guided writing session designed to ignite your creativity and help you hone in on the core story you wish to tell. It will stimulate your imagination and equip you with a focused idea to develop further.

Actionable Steps Forward: Leave the workshop not just inspired but also prepared with a concrete plan. You'll identify one tangible next step you can take to advance your writing project, ensuring that the spark of today's seminar ignites a lasting flame in your writing journey.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Determine the most fitting genre for your family narrative.
• Identify the core story at the heart of your family history.
• Define a clear, actionable step to propel your writing project forward.

Whether you're a seasoned writer or a curious beginner, this seminar will provide the insights and inspiration needed to craft your family's story into a legacy that endures.

• Instructor: Alexis Buryk

• Thursday, April 11th, 2024

• Live Seminar Via Zoom 7:00PM – 9:00PM Eastern