Erik Gleibermann

Instructor Bio:

Social justice journalist, culture critic and memoirist who has written for the Atlantic, New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, Slate, Oprah Daily, Poets & Writers, Los Angeles Review of Books, Black Scholar and World Literature Today, where he is a contributing editor.

Instructor Statement:

Writing may be a solitary craft, but a writing class can turn it into an exciting collaborative practice. I strive to build a community that stimulates creativity through short writing exercises, reflection on model texts, brainstorming ideas, critiquing and also celebrating our work. A good writing class is fun. It’s also rigorous. We break down and demystify the elements of writing genres, whether mini-book reviews or narrative sagas. Each writer (myself included) is discovering their personal process and style. Class members listen to the writer’s vision of what they’re aiming for in a project and help them realize that vision rather than imposing suggestions and judgments. I strive to cultivate an inclusive community, student-centered rather than lecture-based, where discussion topics and readings reflect student lives and identities. UCLA Extension classes have students of diverse backgrounds from around the world who are writing for varied purposes—to publish professionally, investigate editorial possibilities, grow artistically, thrive personally and maybe improve the world a bit. There’s room for everyone with a desire.