The body is a vessel, a home that gives us permission and access to navigating life. So too, the body can also be a site of challenge, or grief, or a space that holds stories and experiences that can block us both as people, and as writers. In this class, we will simultaneously explore the power of writing as both a tool for healing, and a craft-based skill for writing about the body itself. We will read work by writers like Melissa Febos, Sonya Renee Taylor, and others who use language to articulate and share the many journeys our bodies experience both individually and collectively. We will use guided prompts and activities to supportively and thoughtfully generate new content about our own body journeys. We will also build a dexterity for allowing writing to be a vessel––like our bodies themselves––and a home for permission and access. This class will be led by Caroline Rothstein, whose early “Body Empowerment” series on YouTube; activism and advocacy around mental health, consent, and eating disorder recovery; and work as an educator, writer, performer, and documentary filmmaker has long addressed the body, body image, and healing.

** Last day to register: Friday, Feb 20, 2026 **