I’m thrilled to say that I will be a teaching artist at The Loft in Minneapolis for the first time ever! My class for 15- to 17-year-olds, “Will I Always Be Sad? Writing Through Grief and Loss” will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the week of July 14-18.

The course description:

“Essays hinge on a transformative moment—the point in which the author changes and gains a new perspective on life. The death of a loved one is a dramatic example of a transformative moment, and can provide rich, emotional material for an essay. In this class, we will examine how essayists have written about death in a way that’s both personal and universal. We will also explore ways of writing through grief and loss in our own lives.”

Information on registering can be found through the link in the first paragraph. Please spread the word! If you know young adults in the Twin Cities metro area who may enjoy this class, let them know! If someone lives outstate or out of state but is still interested, please tell me. The Loft offers online classes so it’s always a possibility that I could offer this class online in the future if demand is there.

I’m offering this class on the premise that young adults are more attuned to grief and loss than adults tend to give them credit for. Even though they’re young, it’s not uncommon to find many who have lost a loved one, whether it be a relative or friend. Or maybe their best friend is experiencing loss and they are called into a supporting role. Or maybe a tragic accident claimed a classmate whom they didn’t know well. The pall of grief that descends over the school and community still is going to affect them.

My book (recently announced as a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award) that addresses grief, loss, and hope is geared toward an adult audience, but for the reasons I described above, I think it’s appropriate for a young adult audience as well. I explain more in this video:

Let me know your thoughts. Can you think of young adults who might like this class?