Whether in memoir, guides, or fiction, travel literature has long preserved colonialist attitudes toward people and place. As contemporary writers and world storytellers who have inherited this tradition, we carry a responsibility to challenge the colonizer within in order to present our work in more just ways. In this four-hour course, travel writer and lecturer Bani Amor will lead the class through identifying subtle and not-so-subtle terminology and tropes, unequal and unchallenged power dynamics between the writer and their subjects, and delve into narration, setting, and scene as sites ripe for renewal. Participants will each get a chance to read their work and have it workshopped by the class with a specific eye toward applying what they learned during the presentation portion. They will also engage in group exercises and leave the course with specific tools and a syllabus to guide them in their writing journeys beyond our time together.
NB: This class will be taught on Zoom and will be capped at 15 students. Registrants will receive the Zoom link to the email address they use to register. It will arrive immediately after registration so please check your spam folder if you do not receive it. It will also be sent the day before class as a reminder. Please review the course policies page before registering for any classes. Please email ask@writerscenter.org with any questions.
The scholarship application for the Altman Person of Color Scholarships, Limp Wrist LGBTQIA+ Scholarships, and the Need-Based Scholarships will be available on May 1 and will be due on May 15 for all summer and fall classes.
Bani Amor (they/them) is a gender/queer travel writer who explores the relationships between race, place, and power. Their work has appeared in CNN Travel, Fodor’s, Teen Vogue, and Lonely Planet, among other outlets, and in the anthology Outside the XY: Queer Black and Brown Masculinity. Bani is a four-time VONA/Voices Fellow who leads workshops and delivers lectures on decolonization and travel culture. Follow them on Instagram at @baniamor and Twitter @bani_amor.
