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Specialty & Nonfiction |
Specialty
We will read and write short poems and prose (non-fiction or fiction) and have time for small group feedback. Some of the writing will be from local authors, some will be chosen because it fits the theme: knowing our place. Authors such as Lucille Clifton, Denise Levertov, Barbara Kingsolver, and others. We will briefly look at combining simple line drawings with writing, with no pressure to draw.
10:00AM – 10:50AM A session both for writers who work in fantasy and magic, and writers new to those areas. We’ll explore how “breaking real-world rules” can be freeing, and how trying the unexpected—and making it work—can hone craft skills in ways that cross genre boundaries, and can get us out of ruts of overthinking and perfectionism.
The session will include discussion of a flash-fiction story and how the writer “sells” us on the magic: what craft elements they use, and how those elements apply to other kinds of writing. We’ll also do two or more in-session exercises in which we explore rule-breaking, seeing where ideas lead, and how to make unexpected twists work in story.
11:00AM – 11:50AM In this ekphrastic writing workshop, we’ll explore ways of creating characters inspired by visual art. Together we’ll examine two very different types of portraits, one by famed photographer Gordon Parks and another by Puerto Rican sculptor Daniel Lind-Ramos, and discuss aspects of internal and external character development. Participants will create two different characters, with time to write and share their creations.
1:30PM – 2:20PM Storytelling has the power to shape perspectives and unite people from all walks of life. And with that kind of power comes great responsibility. Learn how to manage telling your stories authentically yet with attention to inclusivity in this Diversity in Writing class. After this 60 minute class, filled with upbeat yet real world examples and group exercises, you will not only be able to write diverse characters more effectively, but have a deeper understanding of why embracing all intersections of the characters included within your story is essential.
2:30PM – 3:30PM The boundaries of our linguistic worlds have expanded with the wide availability of translation engines. What are the potentials and limitations of these technologies? How can we use them for literary and non-literary purposes? In this workshop, we’ll look at digital tools for translation including Google Translate, DeepL, and Linguee. We’ll address possibilities and limitations of each, and we’ll try our hands at translating a poem or two from a language we don’t know into English. It will help to bring a laptop, though a cell phone will work in a pinch. “To translate is to have the honesty to cling to an allusive imperfection.” —Pierre Leyris.
| Nonfiction 9:00AM – 9:50AM Join essayist Randon Billings Noble in exploring different ways in which the humble list can be transformed into a creative—perhaps lyric—essay. In this session we’ll start by talking about the ways list-making can spur your creative practice. We’ll then look at some examples of list-based essays—from Sei Shonagon’s 11th-century classic “Hateful Things” to more contemporary work by cartoonist Lynda Barry. Then we’ll do some generative writing exercises that will lead you to a list-based essay of your own. Participants will leave with a new understanding of the essay (lyric and otherwise) as well as new work. This session welcomes writers of all genres, interests, and levels.
10:00AM – 10:50AM Introduction: In addition to having a smashing nonfiction manuscript idea, there are several key principles you can embrace to succeed in getting your book published. Discerning the several types of research and analysis required by the process, understanding each aspect of the publisher’s proposal request, being willing to work collaboratively, and maintaining faith in your project—these are essential to your success.
11:00AM – 11:50AM Your story matters. Whether you are sharing it in brief personal narratives or in a book-length memoir, the process of writing and the quest for publication can be overwhelming. This hands-on, writing-immersive workshop gives you the tools you need to write—and publish—your life stories. You will learn the elements of narrative (creative) nonfiction by exploring the stories of your life and the lives of loved ones. Be ready to write, laugh, and maybe even cry as you dig deep into your life stories that will leave a trace in the world for generations to come.
1:30PM – 2:20PM Whether immersed in archival material or through everyday observations and interactions, all writers conduct research. For fiction and nonfiction authors alike, this session explores the benefits of strengthening the writer’s practical skills as a researcher, as well as the tools and techniques one can utilize to improve their writing with the insight and credibility that only well-executed, ethical research provides. Through helpful handouts, interactive exercises, and constructive conversation, attendees will be encouraged to regard research as an enjoyable part of the writing process that not only yields story-strengthening factual information but can also open creative doors and inspire the imagination. The session is intended to help students discover that conducting better research can lead to achieving their goals and experiencing more success as an author.
2:30PM – 3:30PM Write your life story as you lived it, one moment at a time, each under 850 words. This interactive workshop teaches writers to distill a moment of change, conflict, contradiction, or mystery to its essence, so that the impact on the writer resonates profoundly with the reader. We will examine inspiring published examples to learn exactly how the writer moved and entertained us. Using the same tools with which we craft fiction, this workshop is an excellent learning environment for both genres. We'll conclude with a review of where to publish.
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