CLASSES

TELLING MY STORY: Personal Essay and Memoir

Building on the good advice of writer William Zinsser to approach a large task in small pieces, this class will help beginning and seasoned writers work their way to the life stories they really mean to tell. Personal essays focus on the narrator, taking into account the meaning of events from the distance of time and space and how the experiences of one's life shape who we become and how we view the world. We'll take Zinsser’s advice to "start anywhere" with writing exercises, short essays, readings, and discussions of strategies to get at the heart of the story. Writers will have the opportunity to workshop short sections (3-5 pages) of work in progress, but this is not a requirement.  For writers at all levels.

Tuesdays, September 9 - October 28, 1-3 p.m.

ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL

Author John Gardner said that writing a novel is akin to a "practice, a yoga." The shape and direction of a novel varies considerably from short fiction and other genres, and a novel requires a different kind of commitment from the writer.  This class offers an opportunity to consider the requirements and pleasures of writing a novel - opportunities to engage fully with the material, to expand character development, and to explore the intricacies of plot which only a novel can support. Writers who have begun a novel or who have completed a novel and are now in the revision process will be stimulated to continue. Writers considering the novel for the first time will gain in-depth understanding of the process and find support for it here as they set out on this literary journey. Through a combination of discussions, readings, and writing exercises, students will gain a new understanding of the novel-writing "practice."  

Wednesdays, September 10 - October 29, 1-3 p.m.   

 CREATIVE WRITING 101

This class is designed for the creative writing beginner and for writers who want a review to jump start their writing projects.  Using plenty of samples from the literary world and lively, engaging short writing exercises, students will learn the basics of short fiction (including flash fiction), personal essay, poetry, and creative journalism (op-eds and short columns) in an encouraging setting. No experience necessary. 

Thursdays, September 11 - October 30,  11 a.m.-1 p.m.

GUIDED CRITIQUE ROUNDTABLE

The Guided Critique Roundtable is a problem-identification class that provides thoughtful, encouraging, and in-depth peer and instructor feedback on fiction or nonfiction projects. It also provides writers a chance to learn more about their own work as they become close readers for other writers. A guided critique group differs from a less formal writing group in the instructor's ability to keep the conversation focused on the work at hand and – more important – to get at and offer insight into key problems.  Writers will submit up to 25 pages at a time for reading and comment, followed the next week by a 40-minute discussion by fellow writers and instructor. Writers will also receive written comments from peers and instructor. The submitting author will have 5 minutes to respond.  Authors may also opt to use one of their 45-minute sessions for specific questions and/or discussion of their project rather than for feedback. A submission schedule will be worked out at the first session.  Generally, each writer will have the opportunity to submit three separate pieces (or sections of a longer work) during the course of the 8 weeks.  

Thursdays, September 11 - October 30, 2-4:30 p.m. 

 NOTE:  For students who wish to take Personal Essay/Memoir or Aspects of the Novel and Guided Critique Roundtable, I’m offering a combined, reduced fee of $225.

WORKSHOPS

WRITERS WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES: Recapturing the Free Spirit of Imagination

Like every other art form, the art of writing is grounded in imagination. Fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry all require a leap of creative faith into the territory of imagination. We had it when we were children, but where is it now?  If you wonder sometimes where your imaginative impulses have gone, this workshop will help you retrieve what came naturally when you were a child. Be prepared to get re-acquainted with your best writing resource - your imaginative self - as we explore and celebrate our creativity in five hours of playful, inventive creative thinking and writing exercises. There will be surprises.  Bring your favorite hat and a small toy to share.  Saturday, September 20, 10-4 p.m. with a lunch break from 12:30 - 1:30.  $70.  Lunch on your own.

 ZEN & THE ART OF WRITING

I'm repeating this successful workshop which combines drawing and writing exercises based on Frederick Franck's Zen and the Art of Seeing. Writers will refine their ability to "see" and find focus in their work. No drawing or writing experience required. 

Saturday, October 4, 11-3 p.m.  $50.

PUBLISHING POSSIBILITIES & OPTIONS

What are the best options for you and your manuscript once the writing is finished:  big publisher, small publisher, self-publishing?  Each possibility has its benefits and drawbacks. How about competitions and fellowships?  Suppose you just want a few dozen copies of your work for family and friends?  There's no one-size-fits-all answer, and writers who want their work to see the light of day will need to shift hats from craft to commerce as they weigh the trade-offs.  For writers who want to give a holiday gift of their writing to family and friends, this workshop will include simple, attractive ideas.

Saturday, October 25, 11-3 p.m.   $50.

 WORD DANCE

Do you want to write? Do you love words? Sentences? Paragraphs?  Why is some poetry or prose heartbreakingly beautiful when other passages on the same subject sound stuffy and stilted. How do you make dialogue sound natural?  When are words that seemed "good enough" not good enough? What is it about words anyway, and why do we work so hard to get them right?  In this workshop, we’ll use engaging exercises to explore these basic building blocks of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. This is the first Skylark evening workshop. If there's enough interest, we'll schedule more. 

Monday, October 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  $35