Two Truths and a Lie: Writing Memoir and Autobiographical Fiction
Six Mondays
October 3, 10, 17, 24; November 7, 14
7PM-9PM
$400 General / $375 AAWW Members
$360 Early Registration before Labor Day – September 5th

Writing from life can be a tricky business. There are people to protect, faulty memories of events, and the pitfalls of self-censorship. In this workshop, we will employ techniques of poetry and fiction to create works of Memoir and Autobiographical Fiction. Through original writing exercises, we will learn literary techniques including character, dialogue, setting and story arc. In our writing, we will draw upon both the truths and lies of our experience because our lives are too rich not to write about and our imaginations too strong to ignore. Every writer will have the opportunity to workshop one original piece. All levels of writers are welcome. This workshop is partially funded by a grant from Poets & Writers.

If interested in registering, please e-mail a paragraph about yourself and the writing project you would like to work on to twotruthsclass@gmail.com.

Bushra Rehman’s first novel Corona, a dark comedy about being South Asian in the United States, was noted among Poets & Writers Best Debut Fiction and featured in the LA Review of Books among a new wave of South Asian American Literature. Rehman also co-edited the anthology Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism which was included in Ms. Magazine’s “100 Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time.” Her writing has been featured in numerous anthologies and journals. She has taught creative writing for over 15 years at organizations including Teacher & Writers Collaborative, Urban Word NYC and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Check out her website.

What Writers are Saying About “Two Truths a Lie”

This class was an invaluable tool for combining reflection and creative energy. Bushra created an environment that was stimulating, challenging, and accepting all at once. This space opened up imaginative channels that had been blocked for years. This class helped lay the groundwork for a writing practice that will stretch well beyond these weeks. I’m so thankful for this space that brings all kinds of people together, and makes new writing and thinking possible!
– Trishala Deb

Bushra creates a space that is at once fun, challenging, and safe for writers to explore and reveal their stories.
– Kavita Das, Writer :: Nonprofit Consultant

Two Truths, provided a safe and supportive space for me to cultivate my talents as a writer; it helped me structure my writing practices, both disciplined and motivated me to write more, quelled my fears and winged my creativity. I’ve had som of my most insightful and emotionally charged moments as a writer in Bushra’s workshop. Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to get their feet off the ground as a writer.
– Zainab Shah, Writer

I’m glad I found Bushra’s workshop. She provides incredible material that gets the juices flowing, and creates a space where everyone is palpably engaged. The weeks with her flew by so fast. It was incredible to see how much our writing changed in such a short time. Thank you Bushra for helping us unleash our truth – and lies.
– May Pamana, Playwright

The workshop legitimizes the stories we tell with a supportive, diverse cast of eager readers. Bushra has the ability to govern a group into a family. An adjective to describe Two Truths and a Lie is: reformative.
– Pio Tsai, Writer

Two Truths was a reinvigorating experience for me as a writer. Bushra guided us in learning and experimenting with tools of the craft, and always made sure to set aside a chunk of time to actually write during workshop. She shared lots of resources with us and I loved the reading selections she curated with our interests in mind. It was a great experience to help co-create a community of writers where each person’s work was given the time to be critiqued in detail, in a way that both supports you and pushes you to grow.
– Noelle de la Paz, Writer