09/18/2026
Don't miss your chance! Registration for Language of Symbolism closes on Tuesday, 11/10.
Malachi Lily is a neurofunky, liminal Black person rooted in Lenape-Hoking (Philly.) Lily writes speculative fiction through magick, Black-anarcho politics, and nature wisdom to decompose colonial fears. In 2023, they were a Tinhouse and Roots.Wounds.Words. fellow, and in 2024, Lily was a writing resident at Stove Works. In 2025, Lily became a Science Fiction and Fantasy Association Fellow and a Trans Journalism Association Fellow. Currently, in 2026, they were a fellow at the Narrative Shifts residency, a columnist at Inglenook Lit, the spec-fic scholar fellow for the McCormack Writer Center, and the editor-in-chief of Black and Pink Magazine.
In this generative, interactive lecture, we will break down the language of visual symbolism for both the written and illustrated page. This language is derived from the study of folklore, fairytales, divination, and magick as they show up in patterns of visual artwork. We will study pieces of artwork and use them as prompts to create written works of symbolism, as ekphrasis or just inspiration.
For authors of poetry, prose, and comics, this virtual class will give you a sharper toolset in your creative arsenal to support you in sharing the story you want, translating the message you want your reader to receive, and electrifying your prose with potent visuals.
Registration closes Tuesday, 11/10 (or when the class is full). Financial aid and payment plans available, learn more at bluestoop.org/classes
