Author Grace Talusan on going to uncomfortable places in your writing - Nieman Storyboard

Talusan, who teaches creative nonfiction at Brown University, asks her students to first challenge themselves in small ways

January 15, 2026 Author and essayist Grace Talusan is part of a cohort of professors who teach one of Brown University’s most popular humanities classes: “Introduction to Creative Nonfiction.” She encourages her students to find joy in essay writing, assigning exercises that spark creativity. But before the holiday break, tragedy gripped the Brown campus in Rhode Island, as a gunman opened fire on students who were prepping for exams, killing two and wounding nine others. I interviewed Grace about her teaching and writing before the shooting, checking in with her again in the hours and…

saved by

• Lailah Nabegu

related reading

• Creating the Self: Personal Nonfiction | The Harvard Crimsonthecrimson.com
• Writer Grace Byron on getting out of your bubble - The Creative Independentthecreativeindependent.com
• How to write and what to write aboutreading.supply
• Ocean Vuong Teaches the Art of Writing (NYU Professor)youtube.com
• Author Ocean Vuong on being generous in your work - The Creative Independentthecreativeindependent.com
• The Ultimate Guide to Writing Online - David Perellperell.com
• The Lesson of Grace in Teaching, by Francis Sufrancissu.com
• Writer Carmen Maria Machado on focusing on what interests you - The Creative Independentthecreativeindependent.com
• The Despair of the Young - by Mary Gaitskill - Out of Itmarygaitskill.substack.com
• Ocean Vuong: "When I write, I feel larger than the limits of my body." | Louisiana Channelyoutube.com
• Advice for writer’s blocksubstack.com
• Literary Hub >> Nuar Alsadir: The Craft of Writing Empathylithub.com