Object Diaries: Writing through the Things We Keep

Class Description

Why do we keep certain objects? In this workshop, we'll explore the items that connect us to the people we care about: a parent's watch, a friend's gift, a partner's handwriting, or any object that holds someone's presence. We'll begin by examining objects from the Newberry's collection, with a librarian present to share their stories and historical context. These artifacts will inspire us to look at our own meaningful objects with fresh eyes. Bring your object or a photo of it to class if possible, but memory alone works just as well. Through guided writing exercises and prompts, we'll unlock the stories these objects hold. You'll learn how to keep an "object diary": a practice that uses everyday items to access memory and imagination, generating material for essays, fiction, or personal narrative.

Lisa Weiss, MFA, is a 3x Emmy Award-winning writer and founder of Storybeat Studio. She partners with experts and organizations to shape transformative ideas through writing collaborations, strategic storytelling, and workshops. Her work includes the Object Diaries project.

What to Expect

Format: In Person

Class Capacity: 24

Class Style: Workshop; participation- and assignment-based

Materials List

Required

• Notebook and pen (or laptop if preferred)
• An object that reminds you of someone you care about OR a photograph of the object OR a brief written description
• Instructor-Distributed Reading Materials

Cost and Registration

1 Session, $115 ($103.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($115), Community Supported ($105), and Sponsor ($125). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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