Even as we take our first steps away from our mothers, we are forever tethered to them. This tether can feel like an anchor that secures us to a warm sense of belonging or a restraint that prevents us from the fullest expression of our being. Sometimes both simultaneously. Whether the word “mother” sparks bitter or sweet associations, the imprint of this relationship indelibly shapes our identity as we transition into adulthood and parenthood ourselves; we witness the echoes of our mothers in our thoughts, words, and actions.
In this generative Mother’s Day themed workshop, participants will examine a thematically diverse range of published writing and then draft their own imitative responses in the welcoming, safe community of Grackle and Grackle. All experience levels and genres are welcome. Everyone will leave with several drafts and ideas for future writing sessions. We look forward to your attendance this May at Grackle and Grackle!
Lauren Berry received a BA in Creative Writing from Florida State University and an MFA from the University of Houston where she won the Inprint Verlaine Prize and served as poetry editor for Gulf Coast. From 2009 to 2010, she held the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellowship at the Wisconsin Institute. Terrance Hayes selected Lauren’s first collection, The Lifting Dress (Penguin), to win the National Poetry Series prize in 2011. She lives in Houston, Texas where she teaches AP English Literature at YES Prep Public Schools, a charter school for Houston’s most underserved communities. Lauren is currently finalizing her second manuscript of poetry, The Rented Altar.
