Class

Writing About the Animals We Love

There are an estimated 7.8 million animal species on Earth—we humans are but one of them. And of those, less than a million are known by name. There are oceans, skies, forests, and fields full of wild animals to understand. And there are those who share our homes and hearts most closely: our beloved pets.

In this short class, let’s deeply describe, metaphorize, and honor our fellow animals in our writing. Through inspiring readings and prompts, we’ll populate your poems and prose with animals, both real and imagined. We’ll explore the potential—and the pitfalls—of anthropomorphism as a literary technique.

This class will offer inspiring examples of animals in literature, practical exercises based upon them, and clarifying group discussions. By class end, you’ll have promising starts, next steps for revision, and resources to welcome more animals into your writing.

In this class:
-Students will be welcomed to a generative, generous learning environment that is free of judgment by instructor and peers.
-Students will analyze published animal-themed writing for descriptive details, structure, literary technique, and effect.
-Students will use provided prompts to generate poetry and prose that incorporate animal imagery, characters, themes or description.
-Students will consider strategies and steps for revision.
-Students will discover resources to further explore and take inspiration from animal literature.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.