What experience do I need to take a Briya class?
None. You don't need to be an experienced writer, artist, student, anything. Just human. We simply ask that Briya participants come to class with a desire to create, a willingness to try, or if some days you can't, then just showing up will do. We ask that even if on some days you are unable to create anything, that you still come to class with respect and patience for your fellow participants, a sensitivity to offer them useful, honest, and kind feedback, and if that is not something you yet know how to do, then please bring a willingness to learn! We come together to learn to try, both in our own writing, and in how we support others'.

What kind of writing and creating will participants do in class?
Whatever you want! You can write poetry, memoir, drama, fiction, nonfiction, anything that calls to you. You don't need to call it anything, you may not know what it is until you've started it, maybe even not til you've finished it. It is whatever you like.
That is the case in almost all of our classes, certainly all of the drop-in sessions.
The only exception to this is that in some weekly courses, participants will be collaborating to create a project together. In this case, the group will decide what project to pursue (and, it may be a project that allows each participant to write their own component and dictate their own direction). That is up to the class, because those courses will be focused not only on creation but also on collaboration. That said, the weekly course descriptions will clearly indicate if the project will be collaborative or if individuals will be writing alone.

How will my work be critiqued?
It's a great question, and yet we don't love the word "critique." Feels too close to "criticism," which is all too often the way feedback is given to budding and bloomed artists. It can hurt. Well, it can always hurt to share what we've created, but at the Briya Project we really strive to offer feedback that helps an artist grow. Everyone is different, and everyone needs something different. So, we ask each participant to share what kind of feedback would be helpful for them to hear. We may also ask others to share their perceptions of a piece, what they learned in hearing it, or how they felt. It is as much a goal of these classes to cultivate each participant's skill of giving helpful and nurturing feedback, as it is to cultivate writing. So, in our classes we will review how to give and receive feedback, and the instructor will facilitate the conversation to keep it supportive for the writer's growth.

I am interested in Briya classes, but am terrified to write and/or to share my writing with others. Should I still sign up?
Yes. A resounding yes. It can really be terrifying to express yourself and share it with others, particularly if you've felt unseen, unheard, dismissed, misunderstood. And yet, you are considering these classes, likely because you are yearning to express yourself and to find others who want to hear you and support you. That is our most deeply-held purpose at the Briya Project. We will be happy to speak with you one-on-one to discuss your concerns, your dreams, your needs, your boundaries, your process. Please reach out if you'd like to talk.

I am interested in Briya classes, but am nervous that I don't know how to give the kind of feedback you're talking about. I know I can be critical, and I don't want to offend anyone. Are these classes right for me?
Yes! Many of us have been trained to demonstrate our intelligence by putting people down. We do it unconsciously and inadvertently, even sometimes when we wish to compliment someone or their work! We at Briya know that we're all human, and we can err, and we only build new skills by trying. Our classes are designed to support you not only as an artist in your own right, but also to help you as a member of an artistic community learn to support others. This is our purpose, and we want to help! We will be talking about this in class, especially in our 8 week courses. If you'd like to discuss this one-on-one, please reach out!

Would Briya Project classes be good for teenagers and/or children?
The answer is... yes and no. We believe our methodology is vital for teens and children. We would like to offer youth courses in the future - because of capacity, at present we cannot offer youth open enrollment courses, but we'd be happy to work with you to customize classes for your age cohort. As for our current open enrollment classes... these are geared towards adults, and because we strive to create a place of free expression for our participants, we will not be able to limit the subject matter or language of what a writer chooses to share with the group. For this reason, we believe our open enrollment classes are best suited for adults, which we consider to be 18 years old and above. That said, if you have a teenager in mind who you believe could thrive in and contribute to adult classes, or would like to customize a class for younger creators, please reach out - we'd love to discuss these possibilities with you!