Amy Friedman

Instructor Biography:

M.A., author of four memoirs and over 20 memoirs as ghost, editor or co-author, several children’s books and thousands of essays and stories. Ms. Friedman’s most recent memoirs are Desperado’s Wife and One Souffle at a Time: A Memoir of Food and France (with Anne Willan). She is the founder of the nonprofit POPS the Club and founder and editor of Out of the Woods Press. Ms. Friedman is a recipient of the UCLA Extension Outstanding Instructor Award in Creative Writing. Learn more about her work at theamyfriedman.com.

Instructor Statement:

I’ve had the good fortune in my life of studying with some masters—men and women who were both brilliant artists and passionate teachers. What I’ve learned from them is what I try to infuse into my classrooms: that everyone has moments of divine inspiration, that everyone’s work deserves and requires respect and attention, that the pen can be mightier than the sword, that much sweat is required of any task well done and every one of us will, some days, wish we’d chosen a different path. In the classroom, as elsewhere, I like to think of myself as part physical and mental trainer, part colleague, part master and, always, a student of humanity.

Our Students Say it Best!

“Amy is the best writing instructor I have ever had.  I have an M.F.A. in creative writing and have had many writing instructors.  She runs the workshop efficiently, intelligently and compassionately.” —Writers’ Program student