Our Teachers
The Muse's instructors are all working writers and published authors who have taught courses at colleges, universities, and other community organizations. Read our teachers’ biographies and see what classes they are currently teaching.
James Beardsley
James Beardsley grew up in Hampton Roads, received his BA in English from the College of William & Mary, and earned his MFA in creative nonfiction at Old Dominion University, where he worked as a writing tutor and the managing editor for the literary magazine Barely South Review. He specializes in memoir/creative nonfiction and strives to tell stories in interesting, gripping ways while still hewing to the truth.
Current Classes Taught
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 1: The Art of Writing True Stories
- (Winter/Spring 2026)
- Muse Writers Workshop: Creative Nonfiction
- (Winter/Spring 2026)
Previous Classes Taught
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 1: The Art of Writing True Stories
- (Fall 2024)
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 2: Diving into Style and Forms
- (Fall 2024)
- (Spring 2025)
- (Winter/Spring 2025)
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 3: Deeper into Revision and Exploring Publication
- (Fall 2025)
- Muse Writers Workshop: Memoir
- (Summer 2025)