Writing About Politics and Current Events: Opportunities and Obstacles

Politics often seems like a faraway, abstract subject that has little to do with our everyday lives. Current events have always been complex and difficult but, in recent years, seem even more divisive and frustrating than ever. So how can we write about important issues in ways that won’t drive us apart? This workshop will focus on writing that bridges the gaps between our personal values and the larger world in ways that empower our voices as agents for connection and change. We’ll explore how we can bring politics into our favorite forms of writing and explore some unlikely publishing methods that can take us from the written word to activism. (For best results, come to the workshop with a few notes on what you consider your most important personal values and/or a list of important political issues that you care about.)

Register in advance of this event HERE.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Author Bio: John Sheirer (pronounced “shy-er”) lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wonderful wife Betsy and happy dog Libby. He has taught writing and communications for 28 years at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, where he also serves as editor and faculty advisor for Freshwater Literary Journal (submissions welcome). He writes a monthly column on current events for his hometown newspaper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and his books include memoir, fiction, poetry, essays, political satire, and photography. His most recent book is Positively Toward the Negative: Surviving the Trump-Led Attack on American Values and Basic Human Decency. Find him at JohnSheirer.com.