Giving old family journals, letters, and photos a new, creative life

This class meets for three sessions: Saturdays, February 7, 14, and 21 from 10:30 - 12:30.

If you’re like most of us, you might have boxes of old family journals, letters, photographs, records, receipts from multiple generations of your relatives. And, if you’re like most of us, we don’t know what to do with them: it doesn't feel right to throw it all out, nor does it feel right to just let it sit.

Finally, we have a solution! Bring yourself or multiple generations of your family! Why not use these “family archives” as inspiration, material, and jumping off points for creativity?

Don’t you think that your ancestors would like the physical remnants of their lives to see the light of day? To inspire you to create, to tell their story, or to tell it slant, or to create a different world with them as characters. In a very real way, it brings the past alive!

Join former Coffee House Press publisher and current literary agent Chris Fischbach as he leads a two-hour laid-back workshop that explores different creative activities you can do with your family archives. Don’t worry! This about ideas and fun, not about anyone judging anyone else’s work!

Please bring with you a fresh notebook, writing implements, erasers, highlighters, any art materials, really—along with any or all old written family materials. Prior to class, please come with a general idea about what your material contains, and pull 3-4 sentences or paragraphs that you might use as starting-off points during class.

Examples of what to bring: Old family journals, letters, photos, maps, documents such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, shopping lists, keepsakes, ticket stubs, travel documents, passports…you get the idea.

You’ll leave the class with new ways to discover and create, to make something new out of something old, and something you and your family can cherish for years to come. Families are welcome! Ages 12 - 120.

Still have questions? Please check out the FAQ section below where the instructor helps you understand what to expect in the class.

Please note: All sales for class seats are final. If you can't attend, you can transfer your place in class without any fees to another person.

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