Jessica M. Wilson

Instructor Biography

M.F.A., International, Chicana Poet, born in East Los Angeles. Ms. Wilson teaches poetry with California Poets in the Schools. She founded the Los Angeles Poet Society and is a social justice Publisher for Los Angeles Poet Society Press, amplifying QTBIPOC voices. Ms. Wilson has featured at The Broad Museum, professionally developed the Librarians of Santa Monica, the Puente Foundation, Reforma (the LAPL branch of bilingual librarians). Her books of poetry include: What Breathes, Raw Kit, Marie Morrison and Serious Longing. Learn more at www.jessicamwilson.com.

Instructor Statement

When it comes to creative writing, I feel there is no wrong way to create, but rather to be as authentic as possible using your own voice and experience to relay to the page. I feel by giving students a blank canvas it allows them to be themselves and open up, giving them permission to be vulnerable and also explore their expressions. There is no wrong way to create because creativity is unique to the Creative – it is our unique god/goddess power that we all possess; it is ours to wield. It is my job as the Creative Writing teacher to help my students steer this tool and also share with them different means of creating, but it is their opportunity to choose what fits or doesn’t fit. I think we can all learn from each other and learn from those who have done it well. I absolutely believe that it is so important that we see ourselves in the writing that we read and learn from. We can adopt or borrow forms, but also understand the diverse ways we can use our own language.