Class

Writing Absence: Making the Vanished Visible

Do you write about characters who aren’t around--an absent mother, a child unborn? Or maybe you write about what could’ve been—a kiss, a death, a relationship, a dream deferred? Absence and her cousin, longing, are omnipresent in our daily lives though they can be challenging to write about. How do you articulate that which doesn’t exist? This short course is designed for fiction and nonfiction writers who are trying to make voids both tangible and compelling on the page. We’ll explore strategies to concretize all that we can’t touch. We’ll experiment with tools that make longing, loss, and absence visible, visceral, and engaging.

The first two hours of the session will focus on strategies, tools, and examples drawn from the instructor's writing practice and other works. Participants will experiment with short prompts and optional sharing. During the last half hour, Jen will reserve time for questions about craft, publishing, and more. Writers will leave with readings, sense of possibility, and confidence in new approaches. Bring works in progress, fresh starts, curiosity, and your baggage. This class is appropriate for writers at all stages.

Mark your calendar for Jennifer's book launch of The Book of Kin with Milkweed Books at Open Book on Oct 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. CT. More information here.

Please complete this request form at least two to three weeks in advance if you have any accessibility requests for this class. This class takes place in-person, at the Loft at Open Book. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.