Jenni Milton
What Is the Embodied Writing Workshop Series?
I founded the Embodied Writing Workshop Series in 2022. Informed by my own experience as both a workshop participant and leader over the years, as well as by The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Writing Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez, this workshop series seeks to empower emerging writers whose work is somehow engaged with social justice.
Photo credit: Gabriella McDaniels
Student Testimonials
“Jenni’s class changed how I approach my writing as well as how I provide feedback to others. From using the The Antiracist Writing Workshop to cultivating an authentic and interactive workshop environment, Jenni empowered us to write our queer truth in all its human messiness. This workshop was also incredibly well-rounded: we were able to generate new work, receive specifically tailored feedback, and discuss contemporary queer art and lit.”
—SG Huerta
“Working with Jenni provided me a safe, expansive space to approach my writing with vulnerability and clarity. Jenni encouraged us to feel more deeply, write more bravely, which showed in our pieces. She provided additional materials based on class conversations to draw connections between class and published work. I would jump at the chance to learn from her intelligence and kindness again!”
—Shelley
“Embodying Queer Stories is such a joyful and generous space to write and workshop! Jenni is a thoughtful guide, and it's clear she chose our cohort with care. This was my first experience workshopping in an entirely queer space and it was AMAZING! I felt a greater sense of ease and intimacy knowing that the folks reading my work shared and valued our queer connection. Definitely get in on the next cohort!”
—MP Vare
“Jenni is a thoughtful and attentive facilitator with a clear passion for teaching, leading workshops that allow participants to take equal part while steering conversation in a generative way. Her feedback was astute and warm, making me more excited about my writing process. She brings an abundance of care both to her students and to the work at hand, and was always so generous with her time.”
—Theo L.
“Jenni's course kept autonomy and queerness at the center of our work, creating a safe and exploratory environment that helped me thrive in my writing process.”
—BB
“Jenni's focus is not on teaching us to be better writers: it's on creating a space where we are able to define what ‘better’ means to us. By offering practical insights on how to become more attentive readers of our own and others' work, creating a container where each writer is allowed to be just where they are in the process, and treating everyone in the room as an expert, Jenni functions as a guide to help each writer succeed on their own terms.”
—Lane S.
“Jenni was an excellent workshop leader. She had thorough and creative prompts ready to go at the beginning of class and facilitated fruitful discussion, offering her own expertise and making sure everyone got a chance to speak. She created a safe space during workshop and made sure no one felt uncomfortable reading their piece out loud or asking questions. On the weeks where we weren't workshopping a piece from someone in class, she shared pieces that were appropriate for the theme of the class and produced natural discussion and critique. She gave incredibly helpful feedback for my piece that I shared with the class, offering suggestions for improvement related to flow, form and word choice. I looked forward to attending workshop every week, and I hope to be able to take another class with Jenni in the future.”
—Megan B.
“Jenni is an understanding, inspiring teacher who has so much to offer her students. She fosters a safe space to be vulnerable, share feedback and learn from different perspectives around you. Jenni was always available to help and discuss your work, and always led class with positivity and poise. I learned so much taking her class, and walked away with detailed feedback on my writing and new ideas of how to improve my work.”
—Sam S.
"Jenni was a kind and thoughtful teacher who pushed us to articulate our work and was willing to spend time outside of our class reading drafts and giving feedback before our workshop. I appreciated the organization and structure of the class and the freedom she gave for us to plan our own workshops and guide our peers into and out of our writing. I felt so much ownership over my own work and enjoyed the broad range of genres explored in the class. Thanks, Jenni, for making my first ever writing class an enjoyable and non intimidating experience!"
—Tova P.
