"Ladane helped crack open a story I’ve been trying to tell for many years. She saw into the heart of my essay and asked me a question that led in a direction that finally feels right! 

She has a warm and supportive teaching style that made me feel comfortable expressing myself in the discussions and in my writing. The readings for the class were outstanding. They gave me a fresh perspective on what’s possible, what works and why. 

Ladane is a gifted instructor and knows how to bring out the best in her students!"

— Pattie Logan

"Ladane is a gracious and thoughtful instructor, and she instilled these attributes in class participants. She provided a clear structure to the course, which consisted of a broad selection of published pieces, discussions, in-class exercises, and lastly the opportunity to give and receive feedback on pieces we wrote for this course. 

There was a reading assignment for every class, which introduced me to subjects and authors I never would have encountered on my own and broadened my perspective on narrative non-fiction. Because of the wide spectrum of interests of my classmates, I also learned a lot from thoughtfully reading their work and addressing their concerns in workshop sessions. The greatest benefit was the feedback on my own writing. 

I highly recommend Ladane’s Personal Essay and Narrative Nonfiction class to anyone interested in a broad introduction to narrative nonfiction."

— Mary Welker-Haddock

"Ladane is an extraordinary instructor and writer and was instrumental in my growth in her class. She offered a class format that was both structured and fluid. In our sessions, we examined the work of varied writers and authors and explored the range and depth of the personal narrative and essay format. We also spent time writing from in-class prompts and were encouraged to explore our own work in progress or new areas of interest. 

Ladane offered helpful feedback, suggestions and resources and encouraged participants to explore their individual voice more deeply as the course progressed. I was deeply inspired by Ladane’s insight and appreciated her support and encouragement throughout the class. 

If you are an experienced writer or just starting out, I would highly recommend any class with Ladane. You will learn, grow and be inspired."

— Dawn Gelderloos

"Ladane’s eight-week Personal Essay and Narrative Nonfiction writing course was a positive experience, and I learned a tremendous amount through it.   

Ladane included interesting weekly published essays that were relevant and well-written. She introduced aspects of writing through the readings, gave class assignments related to a weekly theme, guided insightful class discussions, and offered supportive feedback on everyone’s writing.   

Ladane is experienced in writing and gifted as a teacher. I would take another class with her and highly recommend her classes to others." 

— Kelly Moore  

“I took the class to feel inspired and more confident as a writer—I was looking for a spark. I was very nervous and came to class feeling apprehensive and not a little bit like an imposter. But, from the first session, our group felt connected. 

It was a welcoming space with a variety of talent and experience—and vocations, ages, and backgrounds. Every week felt like a meeting among friends, and there I found support, encouragement, and compassion. From discussing the weekly readings selected by Ladane to workshopping each of our writing samples, the class was challenging but also refreshing. 

I was glad I stuck it out, and after 8 weeks, I think we were all a little sad to see it end.”

–— Abby True