More Creative Writing Workshops for Spring

Creative Nonfiction and the Personal Essay

with Jessica Bram Workshop Description The genre called "creative nonfiction" can take many forms including personal essays, memoir, informative articles, commentaries, and editorial writing. What they have in common is that the raw material we work with is truth. This workshop will give participants wide latitude to explore the various forms of creative nonfiction. Emphasis will be on writing craft. Participants will develop and practice the various narrative techniques that make creative nonfiction and the personal essay interesting, informative, and compelling. WHEN: 8 Tuesdays, 2 to 4 p.m.: Apr. 22,29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10 WHERE: 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $390 for 8-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 6

Column Writing and Blogging: Speak Your Mind!

With Hank Herman Workshop Description Have you ever read a column in the local newspaper, or maybe on the last page of your favorite magazine, or a blog that really caught your attention, and said to yourself, "I could do that!" ? When something outrageous/thought-provoking/ infuriating/ hysterically funny happens to you, do you automatically think to yourself, "Now that would be great material for a column!"? Does the reflective nature - and short length - of the column or blog format appeal to you? Let Westport News columnist Hank Herman ("The Home Team") help you turn your inclination into action - and turn those inspirations into finished pieces. He'll show you how to brainstorm for material; how to overcome your fear of the blank page or screen; how to edit yourself - in other words, how to get from a rough idea to a polished piece. Whether your goal is publication, writing your own blog, or simply personal satisfaction, he'll show you how to achieve it. This workshop is for writers, or would-be writers, who have columns or blogs in them and are looking for a way to bring them out. WHEN: 8 Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m.: March 12, 19, 26, Apr. 2, 23, 30, May 7, 14 WHERE: 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $390 for 8-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 8

Fiction Writing (Evening)

With Suzanne Hoover, Ph.D. Workshop Description You are writing a novel ... or finally ready to make that long-held goal come true. If you are ready to start the journey, to plunge courageously into the writer's world of inventing and problem-solving, this workshop is for you. And be assured, you will be helped and guided at every step along the way. This workshop will go deeply into the art and craft of fiction, including: structuring the story, characterization, point of view, plotting and sub-plotting, scene construction, dialogue, dramatic tension, pacing, and narrative voice. As these issues arise in the class readings and discussions, they will be explored for everyone's benefit. The workshop is geared to writers whose stories are already on the way, or at least have already been conceived. We will take turns lighting the way for each other. WHEN: 8 Mondays, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: Apr. 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, Jun 2, 9, 16 WHERE: Round Hill Community Church 395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich (Exit 28 off Merritt Parkway) COST: $445 for 8-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 7

Fiction Writing (Afternoon)

With Suzanne Hoover, Ph.D. FILLED Workshop Description You are writing a novel ... or finally ready to make that long-held goal come true. If you are ready to start the journey, to plunge courageously into the writer's world of inventing and problem-solving, this workshop is for you. And be assured, you will be helped and guided at every step along the way. This workshop will go deeply into the art and craft of fiction, including: structuring the story, characterization, point of view, plotting and sub-plotting, scene construction, dialogue, dramatic tension, pacing, and narrative voice. As these issues arise in the class readings and discussions, they will be explored for everyone's benefit. The workshop is geared to writers whose stories are already on the way, or at least have already been conceived. We will take turns lighting the way for each other. WHEN: 8 Mondays, 2 to 4:30 p.m.: Apr. 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, Jun 2, 9, 16 WHERE 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $445 for 8-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 7

"Momoirs": A Writing Workshop for Mothers

With Linda Urbach Howard WHAT: The Momoir is way to capture and hold onto the feelings and memories of your children even long after you've let them go. It's a kind of literary apron strings. The Momoir records your children, their childhood and your motherhood in a way that no photograph or video ever can. This 6-week introductory workshop is for mothers who either want to publish or just record those priceless moments for themselves and their families. It's for any mother interested in writing creatively about the joy, love, hard work, heartache and humor involved in raising children. The workshop will show you how you can write easily, honestly and beautifully about a subject that is near and dear to you. You'll learn how totally do-able writing a Momoir is,even for the busiest mother or the woman who has never written before. There will be simple exercises to get you started and keep you going. Reading your work aloud is voluntary, but very encouraged. The sessions will involve sharing of work, group feedback and discussions about writing and mothering issues. WHEN: 6 Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon Apr. 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 WHERE: 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $295 for 6-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 7

The Examined Life (Advanced)

with Jessica Bram Workshop Description Everyday life offers us unlimited opportunities for reflection and for making sense of the world around us. Join us to explore the fascinating material generated by our own lives and at the same time, develop the writing techniques to make the writing more engaging, interesting, and effective. This smaller workshop is geared to the more advanced writer working on material intended for publication. It is appropriate for all genres of nonfiction including personal essays, memoir, and opinion writing. Written work will be shared in a constructive and supportive atmosphere intended to elevate the caliber of the work. WHEN: 8 Thursdays, 2 to 4 p.m.: Apr. 10, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Jun. 5 WHERE: 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $425 for 8-week session MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 5

Memoir Writing: Telling Our Stories

with Jessica Bram WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: What better reason is there to write one's memoirs than to pass down a wealth of material and wisdom to the next generations? This is a friendly, supportive workshop in which to write your memoirs, share your memoirs with others, and learn good writing techniques to make your work interesting and enjoyable. This workshop is ideal for beginners who wish to get started writing their memoirs for the first time. It is also geared to those who have already done some memoir writing and are ready to share and further shape their work. This workshop is also appropriate for those interested in exploring other forms of creative nonfiction including personal essay, opinion writing, and commentary writing. Material will be shared in a constructive and supportive atmosphere. Emphasis will be on developing narrative techniques to make memoir and creative nonfiction interesting, informative, and compelling. WHEN: 8 Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Apr. 25, May 2, 9, 16,23, 30, June 6, 13 WHERE 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $390 for 8-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 7

Magazine Writing: Selling to the Glossies

with Susan Farewell How does one go about writing for the glossies? In this six-week-long workshop, former Condé Nast travel editor-turned-freelance writer Susan Farewell will share her knowledge of what it takes to get published in regional, in-flight, specialty and national magazines. Whether one's goal is to see an idea in print, or earn money by writing for magazines, participants will be guided through the complete process, from developing initial ideas to completion of articles. Topics covered will be: developing marketable ideas, crafting pitches, gathering research, arranging interviews, organizing research, and writing articles. Workshop participants will prepare goals and work towards them over the six-week period, under Farewell's guidance. Each week, students will be asked to write a short piece before class on an assigned topic that can be shared (or not shared if so desired) at the workshop. All of the assignments are simple writing exercises with no pressure to gather research. Workshop participants can expect not only to learn the nuts and bolts of this business, but walk away feeling inspired and highly motivated. Farewell has had numerous students become published writers as a result of her writing classes. WHEN: 6 Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 WHERE: 32 Webb Road, Westport COST: $295 for 6-week session. MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE: 7

Finding Your Writer's Voice

With Jessica Bram FILLED WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: You know you have a writer inside you but don't know how to begin. Or perhaps you don't know what to write. A novel? Short stories? What about personal anecdotes or essays from your life, or opinion pieces for the newspapers? This workshop will enable you to unlock your inner writer, find your writer's voice, and discover what forms of writing you are best suited for. Sessions will include both in-class writing exercises and at-home assignments in the fiction and nonfiction genres. Writing will be shared in a nurturing and supportive atmosphere designed to inspire you and help you develop your writing skills. Geared to beginning creative writers, this workshop will unleash your creativity, spark ideas, and give you the confidence to move onward with your writing. WHEN: 8 Tuesdays, 7 to 9 p.m.: Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25, Apr. 1, 8, 22, 29

Writing from the Heart Workshop

From IWWG member Janice O'Brien, who works at Wainwright House:

Writing from The Heart:
Finding Your Own Voice Workshop
Saturday, April 12, 2008 – 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wainwright House, Rye, NY
Presenter: Nancy Slonim Aronie

Reclaim your voice using your own language, your own rhythms and your own story. By honoring your instincts, not trying to sound like a “WRITER” or trying to get an A from the teacher, you’ll tap your inner source of creativity and unleash the voice inside of you.

In this workshop, you’ll enter a safe space where you can celebrate who you are without judgment, without evaluation and without your mental censor. When you shake the inner critic of your "artist", you have a good shot at shaking the inner critic of your life. You will laugh, cry and turn your pain into gold. You will write with renewed innocence and astounding power. You cannot be wrong because the truth is healing and writing the truth is always right.

Nancy Slonim Aronie has been a college teacher (Trinity College and Harvard University); a magazine columnist (McCall’s); and is a commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered. She is the author of Writing from the Heart, Hyperion, currently in its sixth printing. She received the Eric Bok Teacher of the Year award at Harvard for two consecutive years and was the recipient of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Artist in Residence “Eye of the Beholder” award. Her weekly radio talk show, “Writing from the Heart” will begin on Lime Radio, Sirius satellite May 26th. She teaches the Chilmark Writing Workshop in her home on Martha’s Vineyard.

Wainwright House is the nation’s oldest non-sectarian holistic learning center dedicated to inspiring greater understanding through body, mind, spirit and community. In this sacred space we offer initiatives, programs and affinity groups in spiritual exploration, health and healing, and environmental awareness. Cost: $120 members / $130 non-members. Pre-registration is required. Register online at wainwright.org or call 914-967-6080

Spring Classes with Mary Carroll Moore

HOW TO PLAN, WRITE, AND DEVELOP A BOOK
A six-week class on all aspects of creating a longer manuscript in fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, and all other genres with Mary Carroll Moore, award-winning author of 12 books

Hudson Valley Writers Center, Sleepy Hollow, NY (an easy commute from CT)
Mondays beginning April 14, 1:30-4:30 p.m., no class April 21 and May 26
Fee: $355 Returning Moore students deduct $15

Topics include theme, story arcs, the process of writing images, character change and plot, the balance of rhythm, structure, and passion in your writing life--tools and insights to make your writing really work for you. Whether you’re a nonfiction author, memoirist, or novelist, and whether you have a book almost finished or merely a concept for one, this 6-week class will help you get to know your project at its current stage and how to take it toward publication. Each week we discuss different aspects of book writing—what a book is really about, how to structure it via storyboarding and story arcs, how to structure your life so you can actually finish writing it. Exercises in class and at home help you explore ways to write sections of chapters, flow the sections into workable chapters, find holes in the material, edit and revise your drafts, organize your research, and explore the underlying concepts and themes your book presents.

Past attendees said:

"I needed structure help and Mary delivered the exact tools to help me." "I love the idea of islands--I've been stuck writing my book chapter by chapter." "Best use of money, time, and engagement I've experienced in a long time!" "Learned a lot about what to expect from writing a book." "Wonderful positive energy here; people share ideas and concepts freely. Very inspiring with honest ups and downs."

TELLING OUR STORIES: Exploring the Personal Essay
with Mary Carroll Moore
Hudson Valley Writers Center, Sleepy Hollow, NY (an easy commute from CT)
Friday, March 28, 2008, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Fee: $120 Returning Moore students deduct $5

A good essay opens a window and invites the reader into a writer’s beliefs about the world. But it also takes the reader on a journey of discovery—as the writer finds out more about these beliefs. So good essays start with strong feeling, thoughtful questions--and this desire to explore uncharted territory. Within this “risk on paper,” your essay can take multiple forms (linear, snapshot, collage, narrative) and endless subjects (from illness, loss, or trauma to nature to a neighborhood’s disappearing culture). In this one-day workshop we’ll learn the steps to explore, craft, and develop a personal or opinion essay. Using short pieces by well-known essayists, we’ll practice writing exercises to discover what our own essay really is about—what's the theme? the seed idea that will speak most clearly to the reader and deliver our point? Be prepared to explore deeply, write a lot, and go home with an essay to finish. Bring an essay-in-progress or an idea for one, as well as a bag lunch. For all levels of writers.

Past attendees said:

"We need more classes like this. Very interactive. Most writers learn more this way."
"Her classes always get me going. She turns problems into possibilities and opportunities."
"In an interactive environment, Mary breaks down the writing process--and the process of the writer. Just what I needed."

For more information or to register, please call the Hudson Valley Writers' Center at 914-332-5953, email info@writerscenter.org, or visit www.writerscenter.org. Mary Carroll Moore's web site is www.marycarrollmoore.com.

Mary Carroll Moore is the published author of eight cookbooks, two medical books, one self-help/inspirational book, and a memoir. For twelve years she was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, and over 300 of her articles, essays, poems, and short stories have appeared in publications such as Quay, Pitkin Review, Boston Globe, American Artist, Baltimore Sun, and American Health. A chapter from her second novel (in process) won an honorable mention in the 2005 McKnight Awards and was a top-ten finalist in the Loft Mentor Series Awards judged by Amy Bloom, and her first novel, Qualities of Light, is circulating to publishers. She was recently featured in an article in the New York Times about her painting and writing. As a writing coach, editor, and book doctor for publishing houses since 1986, she has taught over 2000 writers what it takes to write a successful book. Her website features her art and writing: www.marycarrollmoore.com