Professional Essay Writing for Cancer Caregivers and Family Members

Are you a motherless daughter? Or the spouse of someone who has suffered with
cancer? Or, maybe you have a friend who once had the disease, or a child who was lost
to it? We know there’s a story you might want and need to tell about your loss, or your
fears, or your experiences, but haven’t figured out a way to put form to your words.
Maybe you even feel you don’t deserve a forum because you’re not the one who was
diagnosed.
But that’s not true. Bystanders, and loved ones, suffer too. And while their stories
and perspectives are different, they’re just as valid, and just as valuable to hear. To give
those folks voice, we have developed a personal essay-writing course that will teach its
students how to express themselves in a concise, highly readable way. You’ll proceed
with the idea that your essay could be submitted to a professional publication or
journal. (This might also serve as a good starting point to a memoir, if that’s something
you’ve toyed with.) You don’t have to pitch it for publication, of course. But at the very
least, you’ll learn how to write professional-quality work, and have, in the end, a piece
that you could show to others as a way to explain what you have been through.
My name is Carlene Hempel, and I’m a professor of journalism at Northeastern
University in Boston where I teach an advanced elective course called Magazine
Writing. One of the assignments for that is “personal essay writing.” Students pitch, and
write, (and rewrite) an 800-word essay that reflects something they’ve been through.
Many times, they choose to write about the loss of a parent, or a sibling, to cancer –
and the impact that has had on their lives. That was the context for my developing this
course for the Center for Cancer Support.
We’ll hold the course at the Center on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8 for eight weeks
starting August 15. We’ll see, after the first session, if there is interest to continue with
another session. The fee is $5. Please feel free to contact me in advance if you have
questions about the structure of the course, what you will be learning, and what will
be expected of you. You don’t need previous writing experience, but you will need to
feel comfortable with being edited and having to rewrite your work. I can be reached
at carlenehempel@hotmail.com. I hope to see you there!