Diaries are for children. For women. For outsiders. Diaries are for private feelings that should be tucked away. Diaries are for the bedroom, the drawing room, the attic, the prison, the corner, the closet, the handbag. Diaries must be handwritten in notebooks. Diaries are not literature. Diaries are not interesting. Diaries are not worth saving, studying, or protecting.

This 4-week course aims to prove that none of the above is true, and that by engaging with diaries, we strengthen our writing, build better senses of self, honor who came before us, and engage in daily acts of hope.

Perfect for: Nonfiction writers, fiction writers, poets, Substack writers, grocery list makers, essayists, musicians, painters, sculptors, small business owners, students, people who like projects

4 weeks

Online

Sliding scale: $99-150

• I save a couple free/very low-cost spots for anybody facing financial barriers. Reach out to cartersainthogan@gmail.com and let me know you’re interested!

• Click here for other Course FAQs, including info about payment plans and sliding scale

What’ll we do?

We’ll define what makes a diary, look at some works of diary (films, albums, books, Instagram accounts, TikTok archives, historical documents, wall paintings), and - most important of all - make our own diaries.

What is an anti-writing workshop?

Bottom line: there are no critiques in this class! First of all, critiquing a diary project would be super weird. Second of all, group crits are boring and I always hated them.

In this class, we’ll lead with observations, curiosity, and cheerleading. When you present the stuff you’re making, the rest of us will say what we notice (patterns, form, colors, ideas, that kind of stuff) and then we’ll cheer you on for whatever’s next!

As a class, we’ll also come up with a contract together on the first day for how we wanna interact with one another.

Past participants said this stuff last time I taught ‘Dear Diary:’

“I left class feeling more inspired than I have been in quite a while.”

“This class broke me open and put me back together again, in a way that was totally needed.”

“I found Carter incredibly supportive, extremely intelligent, and a wonderful manager of class time/dynamics.”

“Totally lucky to have studied with Carter!”