The Historian’s Writerly Craft: A Summer Intensive Grounded in Discipline and Artistry
We congratulate the following scholars for securing a place in the first Historian’s Writerly Craft workshop so that they can develop their projects in progress. The application pool was large and excellent. We thank all who applied.
- Tara Bynum, A Revolutionary History of Black Joy
- Erika Edwards, Her Presence Insults Me: A Micro-History of the Church, Crime and the Crown in the Rio de la Plata
- Hannah Farber, The American Lawsuit, Civil Litigation from the Revolution to the Age of Jackson
- Santiago Muñoz-Arbeláez, Catalina’s Fleeting Freedom: An Indigenous Woman’s Journey and the Making of Colonial Bogotá
- Tessa Murphy, Slavery in the Age of Abolition
- John Sweet, The Captive’s Tale: Venture Smith and the African Roots of the American Republic
- Andrew Wherman, Shocking Shambles of Flesh: A Morbid History of New York City and the Constitution.
This 12-week craft intensive online workshop is premised on the belief that historians of vast early America are writers, too. We are drawn as much to character, narrative, and storytelling technique as we are to evidence and argumentation. Yet we are often underserved by writing workshops that privilege fiction, memoir, popular/modern history, and journalism. The Historian’s Writerly Craft will balance our particular disciplinary priorities and challenges with our commitment to artistic development.
During Summer 2026, these dedicated historian-writers will meet on a bi-weekly, virtual basis (for 3-hour blocks between June and August). The sessions are led by Dr. Tamara J. Walker (Barnard College) and Scott Heerman (Omohundro Institute). Meetings will focus on a mix of shared readings, craft how-to’s paired with writing exercises, dedicated writing time, and communal sharing of excerpts and feedback. A sample breakdown follows:
Session 1: Orientation, Goal Setting, and Craft How-To (Focus: Worldbuilding)
Session 2: Communal Sharing and Feedback (each participant will circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts during our session)
Session 3: Craft How-To and Writing Exercises (Focus: Character)
Session 4: Communal Sharing and Feedback (each participant will pre-circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts)
Session 5: Craft How-To and Writing Exercises (Focus: Narrative and Voice)
Session 6: Communal Feedback (each participant will pre-circulate and receive feedback on 2- to 3-page excerpts) and Closing
In addition, each participant will receive two individual coaching sessions focused on their specific project and goals.
Upon completion of the intensive, participants will receive $500 to be used to support the development of their project. These funds reflect the Omohundro Institute’s ongoing investment in scholarly excellence.