SUMMER ‘21 WORKSHOPS
Each class meets online on Saturdays, 10-3:30 pm (except where noted) with a 45 min. lunch break. Registration is in advance only on our Registration page. Classes are $80, or $75 Workshop members (except where noted). Financial assistance in exchange for volunteer hours is available for low-income writers!
JULY 17: FICTION WORKSHOP - IN PERSON! with Karen Ackerson
The class will learn the essentials of writing an engaging story or novel. Character and conflict are key elements that will be discussed, including creating a sense of place, dialogue, and enhancing one's writing style. Students may bring up to five pages to the class for review. Ackerson has taught fiction writing for over 25 years, and is working on a book about her interviews with award-winning authors who have given benefit readings for The Writers' Workshop.
JULY 24: WRITING FOR YOUNG READERS - IN PERSON! with Karen Ackerson
Writers of children’s stories and books will learn how to develop characters, conflict and dialogue appropriate for both children and tweens. Techniques will be taught on how to grab the reader's interest by eliminating unnecessary details, building tension, and fine-tuning dialogue and descriptions. Participants may bring five pages (double-spaced) to the class for discussion.
Ackerson has taught workshops for over 25 years and is Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency (www.renbourne.com).
AUG. 7: AN AGENT’S TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED with Andrea Hurst
Whether you are interested in pursuing the traditional route or self-publishing, this workshop will cover the most effective steps to assure your chances for success. Writers of both fiction and non-fiction books will learn tips including the process of querying agents and publishers, and writing the book proposal. Hurst has over 25 years’ experience in book publishing, and is a bestselling Amazon author of The Guestbook; an instructor for MFA creative writing programs;
and a webinar presenter for Writers’ Digest.
AUG. 14: POETRY WORKSHOP: MEMORY AND MYTH (1-4 pm) with Jan Harrington
Learn how to transform the events of your life into successful poems that resonate with readers. Through prompts and exercises, you’ll generate drafts of poems and strategies for developing them. Harrington’s book Waiting for the Hurricane, won the 2017 the N.C. Poetry Society award. Her poems appear in numerous journals including Tar River Poetry and N.C. Literary Review. Meets 1-4 pm; and costs $65/$60 members.
SEPT. 4: CREATIVE NON-FICTION WRITING with Glenn Proctor
Being able to write about life’s challenges and successes is cathartic, and for many, an opening to a new understanding of self, family and circumstances. Prior to the workshop, participants should write a short mission statement: what you want out of the class, and the type of writing you’re interested in. Please email by July 20 to writersw@gmail.com. Proctor has taught journalism at Kent State, Washington & Lee, Northwestern, and shared the Pulitzer Prize at the Akron Beacon Journal.
SEPT. 11: WRITE YOUR LIFE with Richard Krawiec
The class will learn how to draw on the "material" of their lives to write and revise memoirs, stories, or plays. Elements covered include time compression and expansion, theme, and developing your piece professionally.
Previous students will learn new material. Krawiec is the founder of Jacar Press, and the author of numerous books such as "Breakdown: A Father's Story", "Faith in What?" and "Time Sharing". His works are published in numerous journals including Shenandoah, Florida Review, and N.C. Literary Review.
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WE OFFER ONLINE OR IN-PERSON PRIVATE TUTORIALS AT A CONVENIENT DATE AND TIME FOR YOU!
EMAIL writersw@gmail.com FOR DETAILS.
EVENTS
JULY 30: BACKYARD WRITERS' GROUP
Members who are interested in monthly meetings (social, literary or critique) are invited to our writers' group & potluck which meets on the last Friday of each month from 5-7 pm, at 387 Beaucatcher Rd, Asheville.
Members' guests, as well as prospective members, are welcome. There is no charge. Please bring a covered dish and beverage! Members are also welcome to read their writing (5 pp or 3 poems) to share with the group for critique. It should be revised and edited. Please email your work ahead of time to writersw@gmail.com.
Please RSVP at least 48 hrs. in advance by emailing writersw@gmail.com, or calling 828-254-8111.
OCTOBER 7-10 2o21: WRITERS' RETREAT AT FOLLY ISLAND, SC
Our annual retreat will be held in person (limit: 8 participants in-person), and also online (limit: 6 participants).
Open to intermediate or experienced writers who want to get away from it all to write and review each other's work.
We'll meet outside on a large porch twice a day, for two hours each time.
The all-inclusive cost (except meals) is $525 for a private room in a spacious house. A shared room is $350 per person.
To attend classes online, the cost is only $295.
Please email writersw@gmail.com for more information. Registration is in advance only on our Registration page.
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PAST WORKSHOPS
FINDING YOUR POETIC VOICE with Bruce Spang
Poets Tony Hoagland and Mary Oliver had a unique take on the world - one a keen observer of the social foibles and absurdities of our times, the other a powerful observer of the natural world. The class will examine their poems and strategies for seeing the world with new eyes, and learn how to develop one’s own unique voice through in-class writing.
Spang is the former Poet Laureate of Portland, ME. He has published numerous books of poetry including All You’ll Derive: A Caregiver’s Journey; To the Promised Land Grocery; and Boy at the Screen Door.
WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS with Karen Ackerson
Participants will learn how to turn personal and family experiences into a compelling memoir for family and friends, or for publication. In-class writing exercises will help to identify life-changing events, to be used as the backbone of a memoir. Discussion will include creating a sense of place, dialogue, and enhancing one's writing style.
Ackerson, a biographer and Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency, has taught workshops throughout the Southeast for over twenty years. She is writing her own memoirs about her world-wide adventures; and interviews with award-winning writers such as Vonnegut, le Carre, Welty, Matthiessen et al.
INTRO TO SCREENWRITING WITH NATHAN ROSS FREEMAN
Participants will learn all aspects of writing the screenplay, including formatting, characterization, sequence structures, and how to adapt any genre to a screenplay. Freeman’s credits include the feature films Gem and Mr. Bones, the official selection of major film festivals; Hannah Elias; and Authoring Action, awarded 2010 Best Documentary in the U.K.
He has taught at UNC-C and Salem College.
WRITING FROM THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD with Nina Hart
Writers will learn innovative ways to generate fresh material, avoid writer’s block, and tap into their creative side. The class will be guided towards accessing the inner voice through KaizenMuse Creativity methods, evocative “timed writes”, and lively class readings and discussions. Hart is a writer and creativity coach trained in the Kaizen Muse method. She is also certified by the Gateless Method – “a method of teaching the art and craft of writing using creative brain science, allowing writers to access the creative genius inside”. Her first collection of short stories, Somewhere in a Town You Never Knew Existed, was a finalist in Foreword Review Book of the Year Award.
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Members' guests, as well as prospective members, are welcome. There is no charge. Please bring a covered dish and beverage! Members are also welcome to read their writing (5 pp or 3 poems) to share with the group for critique. It should be revised and edited. Please email your work ahead of time to writersw@gmail.com.
Please RSVP at least 48 hrs. in advance by emailing writersw@gmail.com, or calling 828-254-8111.
OCTOBER 7-10 2o21: WRITERS' RETREAT AT FOLLY ISLAND, SC
Our annual retreat will be held in person (limit: 8 participants in-person), and also online (limit: 6 participants).
Open to intermediate or experienced writers who want to get away from it all to write and review each other's work.
We'll meet outside on a large porch twice a day, for two hours each time.
The all-inclusive cost (except meals) is $525 for a private room in a spacious house. A shared room is $350 per person.
To attend classes online, the cost is only $295.
Please email writersw@gmail.com for more information. Registration is in advance only on our Registration page.
****************
PAST WORKSHOPS
FINDING YOUR POETIC VOICE with Bruce Spang
Poets Tony Hoagland and Mary Oliver had a unique take on the world - one a keen observer of the social foibles and absurdities of our times, the other a powerful observer of the natural world. The class will examine their poems and strategies for seeing the world with new eyes, and learn how to develop one’s own unique voice through in-class writing.
Spang is the former Poet Laureate of Portland, ME. He has published numerous books of poetry including All You’ll Derive: A Caregiver’s Journey; To the Promised Land Grocery; and Boy at the Screen Door.
WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS with Karen Ackerson
Participants will learn how to turn personal and family experiences into a compelling memoir for family and friends, or for publication. In-class writing exercises will help to identify life-changing events, to be used as the backbone of a memoir. Discussion will include creating a sense of place, dialogue, and enhancing one's writing style.
Ackerson, a biographer and Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency, has taught workshops throughout the Southeast for over twenty years. She is writing her own memoirs about her world-wide adventures; and interviews with award-winning writers such as Vonnegut, le Carre, Welty, Matthiessen et al.
INTRO TO SCREENWRITING WITH NATHAN ROSS FREEMAN
Participants will learn all aspects of writing the screenplay, including formatting, characterization, sequence structures, and how to adapt any genre to a screenplay. Freeman’s credits include the feature films Gem and Mr. Bones, the official selection of major film festivals; Hannah Elias; and Authoring Action, awarded 2010 Best Documentary in the U.K.
He has taught at UNC-C and Salem College.
WRITING FROM THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD with Nina Hart
Writers will learn innovative ways to generate fresh material, avoid writer’s block, and tap into their creative side. The class will be guided towards accessing the inner voice through KaizenMuse Creativity methods, evocative “timed writes”, and lively class readings and discussions. Hart is a writer and creativity coach trained in the Kaizen Muse method. She is also certified by the Gateless Method – “a method of teaching the art and craft of writing using creative brain science, allowing writers to access the creative genius inside”. Her first collection of short stories, Somewhere in a Town You Never Knew Existed, was a finalist in Foreword Review Book of the Year Award.
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Where to find us:
PLEASE NOTE: ALL classes will be meeting online EXCEPT WHERE NOTED. |
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