Upcoming Classes
Midday Musing: A Generative Writing Class
September 24 to October 29
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. CST
Online at The Loft
Register at The Loft
Work, caretaking, school, chores. Who has time to fit in writing? Now you do! Join these mid-day creative sessions—you’re welcome to eat during class—to produce new work.
We’ll use this break for short writing exercises that you can tailor to fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Each session will have a prompt, time to write, and a chance, for those who’d like, to share their writing. This is a supportive, criticism-free environment where you can play with new forms, try different writing styes, and let your mind run free. Brief in-class readings will provide inspiration, while further pieces will be provided for optional at-home reading. These will include works by authors such as such as Jacqueline Woodson, Lidia Yuknavitch, Langston Hughes, and Samantha Irby. By the end of these classes, you’ll have a collection of writing to continue developing, as well ideas for more pieces.
This class is appropriate for anyone who struggles with finding time to write. So grab your lunch and your notebook (or computer) and let’s get writing!
PAST CLASSES
“Pantsing” Your Novel: Writing Without a Road Map
In the writing world, there are Plotters and there are Pantsers. Plotters create outlines, knowing where their novel ends before they type the first words of their drafts. Pantsers write “by the seat of their pants,” diving in knowing only the broad strokes of their stories. In this class, we’ll explore ways to delve into your novel without a master plan. Through exercises and research you’ll develop the tools to keep your novel moving forward, even if you are unsure where it’s going.
“Say What?” Writing Dialogue that Speaks to the Reader
Dialogue serves many purposes in fiction: It reveals conflict and creates tension. It advances the storyline. It develops characters and must accurately represent the novel’s time and place. We’ll examine both the mechanics of dialogue—tags, dialect, speech patterns—as well how it serves your story. Both in-class and out-of-class writing exercises will help you develop your ear for how people speak.
Writing and Revising the Historical Novel, an eight-week feedback class for those mid-writing an historical novel.
Wake Up and Write!, a four-week early morning generative writing class
Writing the Historical Novel, beginner’s class on crafting an historical novel.
Creative Writing Write-Ins, weekly drop-in generative writing sessions.
I Remember When… Writing Your Life Story, the craft of writing personal essays for both publication and to preserve family history.