Writing Personhood: for Adoptees

Course Description

Many adoptees grow up inside stories shaped by other people: adoptive parents, agencies, social workers, extended family, even the culture at large. We are told who we are, what our adoption means, how grateful we should feel, what questions are acceptable, and what should remain silent. This class is for adoptees who want to examine those inherited narratives and begin writing toward something truer, more complicated, and more fully their own. In this class, we’ll read brief excerpts, respond to prompts, discuss craft, and generate new material in a thoughtful, respectful environment. We’ll explore identity, memory, voice, omission, emotional truth, and the distance between the story we were given and the story we actually lived. This is a writing class, not a therapy group, though strong feelings may arise. Writers at any stage and any experience level are welcome. Areas of focus include: • identity and self-definition • family narrative and silence • memory, ambiguity, and rupture • voice, permission, and emotional truth • writing about other people ethically • finding shape in fragments, scenes, and reflection Format: Zoom Who it’s for: Adoptees at any stage of writing experience Approach: Generative, reflective, craft-based, with optional sharing Interested? For Adoptees, NPEs, Former Foster Youth Payment due in full before class begins by Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay, or PayPal. Minimum nonrefundable deposit by Venmo to @Aimee-Christian to save your spot. Please contact me for payment plan or aid if needed.