Kathryn Johnson
Kathryn Johnson’s 40+ popular novels (nominated for the Agatha Award, winner of the Heart of Excellence and Bookseller’s Best Awards), include historical fiction (e.g., The Gentleman Poet, wherein Shakespeare escapes to the New World aboard a ship bound for disaster) and contemporary suspense. The Extreme Novelist (nonfiction) is the text based on her courses at The Smithsonian Associates and The Writer’s Center. More about her at: https://KathrynJohnsonLLC.com.
Teaching style: Kathryn Johnson’s classes are lecture-based, information rich. Her courses are not of the workshopping variety (in which, participants critique one another) but, rather, offer practical advice on writing and publishing in the 21st century, based upon her ongoing experiences in the publishing world. Handouts on talking points provide an outline for each class. Kathryn enjoys answering students’ individual questions and concerns, and offering career guidance whenever possible. Her mentoring service is available to supplement course work.
September 2019
This interactive workshop is for writers of all levels who would like to create a memoir that values the struggles in their lives, makes sense of them, and explores their meaning. The focus will be practical and designed to help participants make rapid progress with their memoirs. We will discuss the reasons for writing a [...]
Find out moreTo register/purchase tickets: https://compassiontrain.eventbrite.com What is Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)™ Through instruction, daily meditation, mindfulness, and in-class interaction, you can strengthen your innate qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness—toward yourself and others! Designed by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers at Stanford University, Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)™ can help you live with [...]
Find out moreAt the core of every good tale, is a character with whom the reader wants to spend time. Discover how to move beyond the superficial and cliché, crafting characters who invite the reader to explore the human condition. Illustrations and exercises will help to uncover your character's inner values (in memoir that character is you) [...]
Find out moreSestinas are the short stories of the poetry world—so this class is perfect for fiction writers as well as poets. Take a crack at a sestina or learn how to write better ones in this fun and informative class. Sestinas often fail because writers don’t pair the form with the right sized story/idea, so we’ll [...]
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Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic at The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Limited space. Sign-up starts at 1:30, and readings begin promptly at 2. FREE and open to the public. Hosted by Amy Freeman, Emily Holland, & Zach Powers. Sponsored by Poet [...]
Find out moreIdentifying the key transformational turning points in your life is an important first step in writing your story. In this session, we will explore how to narrow down these turning points and associate specific stories and lessons to each one. Once you have the building blocks, how do you create a beginning, middle, and end? [...]
Find out moreLearn how to write a powerful memoir that will engage readers for years to come! Everyone has a story to tell (or multiple stories for that matter) which is why contemporary memoir—a form of autobiography where everyday people tell their stories—has become such a popular genre. Whether your life has been strange and quirky, highly [...]
Find out moreThere’s more to a good narrative poem than telling a story in lines rather than paragraphs. In this workshop we will examine the distinction between lyric and narrative poetry and look at some contemporary narrative poems to see what makes them succeed or flounder. We will discuss the varying perspectives from which a story can [...]
Find out moreFor anyone who wants to write a book but needs help getting started, this two session, four hour workshop will get you there! For novels, memoirs, or nonfiction, we'll talk about what goes where and how to get started. Please bring a 50-word description of your book project to the first class.
Find out moreBuild your author platform with the powerful tool of blogging! In this one-time class participants will learn about the five essential parts of a good blog, how and where to blog to get the most exposure for your message and the secrets to writing a blog that actually gets read. By the end of the [...]
Find out moreWhen writing a screenplay, your first five pages is the most important hurdle that you MUST clear.
Find out moreThis workshop will be dedicated to making your memories live on the page, with a special emphasis on capturing childhood scenes and adult reflections. Excerpts from memoirs and essays by authors such as James Baldwin, Tobias Wolff, Joan Didion, Maggie Nelson, Alexander Chee, and Lidia Yuknavitch will teach the art of scene-making. Participants can write [...]
Find out morePlease wait to be accepted into the course to register. This workshop is for writers who have a good understanding of what a personal essay is, are open to exploring further the many forms a personal essay can take, and are already working seriously in the genre. The focus will be participants' writing, supplemented with [...]
Find out moreThese are exciting times to be a screenwriter. With more shows and television channels than ever, the opportunities for inventive ways of storytelling increase daily. This hands-on workshop will guide beginning and intermediate screenwriters through the process of crafting a professional-grade screenplay and/or TV pilot. Participants will examine proven methods for adapting fiction and narrative [...]
Find out moreIf you have always wanted to write but haven't known how to begin, this interactive workshop is for you! In one afternoon, participants will explore and try their hand at fiction, poetry (including prose poems), and memoir in order to "jump start" their writing. Exercises started in class will generate ideas to take back home. [...]
Find out moreIn this seven-week workshop for participants who are ready to put together a chapbook (must have 30 pages of strong poetry), we’ll explore how groups of poems can work together to create a focused and whole experience. During the first six weeks, participants will read model chapbooks and consider various strategies of organization, prepare their [...]
Find out moreIn the end, you write largely what you have read. We all hope to be original, of course, and to develop that most elusive quality: our own voice. But just as we learn to speak by hearing others speak around us, it’s our lifetime of reading that largely makes us who we are as writers. [...]
Find out moreOctober 2019
You've led an interesting life and want to tell some of your stories to others. You've read some memoirs and personal essays, and have been stashing some of your own efforts in a notebook somewhere. Now it's time to pull them out and begin to craft them into a narrative. Come explore with us, through [...]
Find out morePoetry reading by Dr Nishi Chawla and Maryland's Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri, in honor of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. Sudeshna Basu and Stuti Banerjee will also sing Gandhi’s favorite songs.
Find out moreThis follow-on course to the popular Extreme Novelist is intended for writers serious about their publication goals. Participants will focus on revision and learn ways to avoid the most common issues that result in rejection. Plotting pitfalls, slow beginnings, and weak endings are just a few of the topics tackled as each writer works independently [...]
Find out moreLearn how to write a picture book from a successful author of more than two dozen award-winning books for children. Each session will begin with a short discussion of an aspect of writing for children, including story openings and arcs, characterization, plot/pacing, rhythm/sound, and marketing. Suggested readings, prompts, and feedback will inspire and guide writers [...]
Find out moreWhether you are an organized planner or a writer who flies by the seat of their pants, a novel still needs structure. In this four-week online workshop, participants will study the architecture of a novel and devise plans for plotting their novels.
Find out moreThrough prompts and texts lets write, read, and workshop really short fiction (under 1,000 words, maybe even under 55 words!) When we strip stories down like that, what remains? Let's explore this space together!
Find out moreWriting a novel takes commitment, but it doesn’t need to be daunting. Learn how to generate a handful of plots from which to choose, methods for effectively planning your story, and simple hacks for fine tuning your basic fiction skills. Participants will initiate a flexible writing plan that will keep their writing flowing. This is [...]
Find out moreDialogue is the playwright's primary tool for conveying a story that ultimately becomes a visual, aural and emotional experience for an audience. But dialogue also features in poetry, screenplays, fiction and even non-fiction. In this workshop, we will explore dialogue through exercises and close readings of various published work, in the context of scene structure, [...]
Find out moreHave a poem that's almost there but seems to be missing that last touch? Or a poem for which you have questions? In this poetry workshop condensed into one afternoon, we will discuss your poems and help them go from good to great. Bring 15 copies of 2-3 poems (time permitting) for feedback and critique. [...]
Find out moreWe often see ourselves differently than others do and wish they understood who we really are with our work. With the different roles we portray in life, we can create private and public personas that others might never recognize unless we incorporates these roles in our own "Identity Poetry." Everyone's voice, identity, and work is unique! By reading selected identity poems, this [...]
Find out moreTired of waiting for a theater to say “yes”? In this workshop, you'll give yourself the “yes” by learning everything you need to produce you own play on any budget, starting at zero. Week one will cover how to write a budget-friendly play, where to find a space, as well as who you'll need to [...]
Find out moreProse, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic at The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Limited space. Sign-up starts at 1:30, and readings begin promptly at 2. FREE and open to the public. Hosted by Amy Freeman, Emily Holland, & Zach Powers. Sponsored by Poet [...]
Find out moreWhether your editor expects you to promote your articles, or your book is set for release and you need to attract readers - visibility matters. This workshop is for writers searching for ways to build their author platform and boost their personal brand. You will learn how to position yourself for success on the most [...]
Find out moreThis course teaches beginning screenwriters a process to use to write an entire screenplay. Each week, participants will learn a different aspect of screenwriting such as developing a premise, structuring the story, or building a character. By the end of this course, participants should be able to write a complete screenplay from beginning to end.
Find out moreWant to break into a new area of essay writing, give your cause-driven organization more visibility, or just get paid for your opinion? This five-week workshop is for writers interested in learning how to craft opinion pieces that matter. You will learn the elements of an op-ed, how to generate unique angles pegged to timely [...]
Find out moreThe Word Works and The Writer’s Center will feature poets Ellen Cole and Kateema Lee. Café Muse opens at 7pm with refreshments and classical guitar by Michael Davis; readings begin at 7:30. Open Mic to follow. All Café Muse programs are free to the public and handicapped accessible. ELLEN ARONOFSKY COLE is a poet, actress, [...]
Find out moreWriting is more than a craft. It’s a tool. This goal-oriented workshop teaches practical ways to let go of the past, dissolve anxiety, heal grief, and improve relationships through the transformative power of writing. Exercises will inspire change, forward momentum, and may become publishable work. Learn how to write and live out a new story.
Find out moreJoin Alan Squire Publishing as we celebrate the release of three new books by Joanna Biggar, Reuben Jackson, and Linda Watanabe McFerrin. Readings, remarks, and party to follow. FREE and open the public. ABOUT THE BOOKS MELANIE'S SONG by Joanna Biggar (Alan Squire Publishing, October 2019) follows five young women from California who once shared [...]
Find out moreThe F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference, Inc. and The Writer’s Center presents Readings in Tribute to Amy Tan and to Mothers, Daughters, and Families, featuring Julie Langsdorf and Deborah Tannen. FREE and Open to the Public Tyrese L. Coleman is a writer, wife, mother, and attorney. Her debut collection of stories and essays, HOW TO SIT, [...]
Find out moreWe'll talk about the difference between a book that a publisher sells, and one they pass on.
Find out moreImprove your sonnet skills, or write your first one. Guided by an internationally published author of sonnets, villanelles, and other metrical poems, you’ll first read classic and contemporary sonnets to see how and why they work. Then -- with or without shortcuts -- you’ll write one or more of your own. Next you'll see how [...]
Find out moreThis workshop is based on the idea that the words we use can change the momentum of our lives. In this interactive workshop, we approach healing through writing exercises that elevate your thoughts, apply a healing narrative to your memories and empower the way you imagine your future. This workshop highlights how we can all [...]
Find out moreThis workshop will focus on the twists and surprises of a poem (torque) and what is essential and needed in the poem (profit). Participants will examine iconic poems as well as work by new writers as models and prompts. Open to those writers who are truly interested in generating new work (often in class) and [...]
Find out moreLearn how get print and digital articles published for professional pay. After our six weeks, you should have practiced and learned • how to generate ideas, • where to market them, • how to propose them to editors, • how to research and structure an article, including sidebars, • ways to write about people and places with life and color, [...]
Find out moreTake your stories to another level! This advanced workshop will take a look at aspects of stories such as character development, world building, and tension, and also places to submit and how to get those stories out in the world. Participants will read from PEN America Best Debut Short Stories 2018 as well as do [...]
Find out moreThis workshop offers a practical 16-point plan that takes you from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential fans. Participants will discuss how to transform the nub of an idea into a book-length project, populated with [...]
Find out moreThe objective of this workshop is to start writing stories in two languages using code-switching. By using two languages the writer could find their unique voice by incorporating a second language, besides English. This type of writing makes our stories unique and reveals the authenticity of our characters.
Find out moreStories start with an event that sets the world off balance! In this workshop we'll look at plot, character, setting, and dialogue and how to set our stories apart! We will peer review stories as well as read outside works from the text Best American Short Stories 2019.
Find out moreFull details to come! An evening of beer, Scrabble, and socializing, all in support of TWC's scholarship program.
Find out moreThis day-long workshop will deconstruct and demystify the novel-writing process for struggling and/or aspiring writers. Go all the way from getting the start of an idea to getting your book into the hands of expectant fans. Along the way you'll learn how to stay organized, write in the voice of the opposite sex, the art [...]
Find out moreAre you ready to get your essay published? Learn what publications are looking for and how to pitch your piece. Participants will write, revise, and submit two essays by the end of the session!
Find out moreIt's often said that without conflict there is no story. It also holds true that strengthening the conflict in any type of fiction will bump up the tension and turn limp, ordinary fiction into an extraordinary tale that will keep readers turning pages. Whether you choose to write literary fiction, mysteries, family sagas, thrillers, historical [...]
Find out moreImprove your villanelle skills, or write your first one. Guided by an internationally published author of villanelles, sonnets, and other metrical poems, you'll first read classic and contemporary villanelles to see why they work. The class will write a group villanelle, and then, with or without shortcuts, you’ll write one of your own. Next you'll [...]
Find out moreWorking on a book (or planning to) and need to understand the business side of getting it done? This one-day workshop focuses on the basics: publishing, contracts, copywrites, organization (setting up a writing business), the changing marketplace, and how to position yourself for success.
Find out moreHave you ever looked at a map, an order form, or a recipe and thought “there’s a story there”? No? Well, it’s time to change that. In this four-week course, we’ll explore different forms of flash fiction and use them as a basis for our own, off-kilter creations. Come ready to read, write, and give [...]
Find out moreThis six-week workshop will focus on the fiction elements of setting and voice through a series of fun and varied exercises geared toward cultivating inventive, thought-provoking, and narratively efficient writing. Together we will look at what makes successful setting and voice and how they can be used to further a scene or story. This class [...]
Find out moreIf you aspire to be a produced playwright, the ten-minute play could be your ticket to success. In this highly interactive course, we'll read aloud and analyze for technique some of the best ten-minute comedies and dramas of the past decade. Then, you'll apply those techniques to your own writing. Your work will be read [...]
Find out moreAmsterdam Quarterly presents a reading by writers featured in the current issue, including Claudia Gary , Hiram Larew, Irene Hoge Smith, and editor Bryan Monte.
Find out moreIn your writing, do you shy away from highly charged scenes involving violence, sex, danger, mental illness, intoxication, or a character going through any type of intense physical or emotional state? During this presentation, we'll confront the challenges of conveying the thrills and fears of the most intense moments of your work in fresh ways [...]
Find out moreHave you considered self-publishing your picture book? This two-hour workshop is for writers interested in sharing their work through self-publishing. Learn the basics to writing and revising a children's picture book, how to find an illustrator for your picture book, publishing on Amazon and IngramSpark, and marketing tips to get started. By the end of [...]
Find out moreIs your writing in a beautifully furnished, air-conditioned rut? Or maybe you just want to have fun and jumpstart your creativity? This three-hour workshop will introduce you to games used by Improv performers and apply them to your writing practice--creating interesting new plot twists, sparking radical never-before-seen imagery, and unleashing all manner of mad word [...]
Find out moreThis 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 learning exactly how the writer moved and entertained us, then do an exercise to practice those skills. Using the [...]
Find out moreShould the language used in poetry be different from that used in everyday speech? For centuries it most definitely was...and then, thanks to William Wordsworth, things changed. In this workshop, we will examine what diction is and why understanding where certain words come from is essential to using and combining them effectively. Topics for discussion [...]
Find out moreThis workshop will cover the essential elements of every rhyming text: rhythm, meter, cadence, and rhyme scheme, breaking down each element in a way that isn’t intimidating, whether onthe page or the stage. The Poetry Workshop is an introduction to poetry and poetry performance. This workshop will involve two components: writing and performing poetry. Participants [...]
Find out moreAmong the tools available to the playwright, dialogue is the most obvious and possibly least understood element of craft. In this session participants will identify some of the many uses of dialogue and discuss how the writer uses this tool to explore, discover, and build a play. The workshop will also take a look at [...]
Find out moreThis course is for individuals who want to tone up their writing muscles so they can go the distance. Each class will include a prompt for a piece that we will start in class. Participants will then focus on specifics like effective beginnings, creative prose, and strong conclusions. Participants will also learn how to avoid [...]
Find out moreIn this seven-week workshop, beginning writers will have the chance to explore three different genres: memoir writing, short fiction, and poetry. Each week participants will be given a writing assignment and several readings, to be followed by a critique of each participants’ assignment. Participants will learn about voice, point of view, dialogue, description, imagery, and [...]
Find out moreNovember 2019
When writing a novel, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand their desires, motivations, and frustrations, their histories and their futures. This workshop will focus on the development of authentic characters. Participants will examine character as both autonomous and residing within the context of the other novelistic elements, and [...]
Find out moreIf you have always wanted to write a novel but didn't know where to start, this workshop will help you understand the process so you can get started putting pen to paper. The workshop will focus on everything from generating ideas to developing characters to establishing point of view. Participants will discuss many elements of [...]
Find out moreIn this one-day, three-hour class, beginning writers will explore their five senses and how they can be used to enhance their writing. Using writing prompts, participants will be shown images, listen to music, and also experience touch, taste, and smell. After responding to the writing prompts, participants will have the chance to share their work [...]
Find out moreYou may think you don't have the time, energy, or inspiration to write because of your hectic lifestyle. Wrong! Learn what professional writers know about organizing their time, establishing a productive writing routine, and getting their stories written. We'll share methods many professional writers use to complete their books in months instead of years, their [...]
Find out moreThese are exciting times to be a screenwriter. With more shows and television channels than ever, the opportunities for inventive ways of storytelling increase daily. This hands-on workshop will guide beginning and intermediate screenwriters through the process of crafting a professional-grade screenplay and/or TV pilot. Participants will examine proven methods for adapting fiction and narrative [...]
Find out moreParticipants will read and discuss a selection of Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's poems, as well as her memoir, Crazy Brave. The class will also use her work as inspiration for explorations in writing and the arts: since Harjo works in poetry, nonfiction, music, and art, participants can respond to her work in any form. The [...]
Find out moreProse, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic at The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Limited space. Sign-up starts at 1:30, and readings begin promptly at 2. FREE and open to the public. Hosted by Amy Freeman, Emily Holland, & Zach Powers. Sponsored by Poet [...]
Find out moreHow can we as writers interact with the past in a tangible way? In this session we will examine how ten writers in both poetry and non-fiction asked questions of artifact to bring the past into relevant relationship with the present. Come prepared to write: we will practice posing questions to an artifact (bring one, [...]
Find out moreJoin the Washington Writers Publishing House for a special event celebrating their two new award winning books! The WWPH Fiction winner for 2019 is Nathan Leslie, for his story collection, HURRY UP AND RELAX. Nathan Leslie’s nine previous books of fiction include THREE MEN, ROOT AND SHOOT, SIBS, and THE TALL TALE OF TOMMY TWICE. [...]
Find out moreIn this six-week workshop, intermediate and advanced poets will concentrate on reading, writing and critiquing poetry. Each class session will include a brief discussion of selected contemporary poems, an in-class writing prompt, and workshopping participants' poems. Specific exercises will be given to free the imagination, and quiet the inner censor. We will explore formal considerations, [...]
Find out moreThe Word Works, in collaboration with The Writer’s Center, features readings by the poets Susana Case and Margo Stever. Café Muse opens at 7 pm with refreshments and classical guitar by Michael Davis; readings begin at 7:30, followed by an open mic.
Find out moreIs your poem ready to meet the world? Or would a little feedback help you craft something more powerful? Revise your poems and learn submission tips with an award-winning poet whose work has appeared in over 100 journals and three chapbooks. Participants will bring poems to each class and share in a safe environment designed [...]
Find out moreAlthough most authors now recognize the need to participate in the marketing of their newly published books, the idea of marketing can still inspire fear and loathing. Fortunately, by developing a plan and understanding basic elements of marketing, much of that fear can be dispelled. Whether your book is being published through a big press, [...]
Find out moreWhat does your audience need to know and when do they need to know it? In this workshop writers will consider various strategies for managing exposition in the context of process in writing a play (getting started, exploring a first draft, analysis, and revisions). Participants will look at examples to better understand how to handle [...]
Find out moreThis workshop offers a practical 16-point plan that takes you from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential fans. Participants will discuss how to transform the nub of an idea into a book-length project, populated with [...]
Find out moreIn this workshop participants will read and discuss memoirs, stories, essays, letters, and poetry written by and about women in the second half of life. The readings will include evocations of the experiences of older women as well as reflections by women on the phases of their lives as girls, young, and mature women. Mining [...]
Find out moreLearn to deeply revise and polish your picture book manuscript before submitting to an agent or publisher. A widely published author and an acclaimed illustrator will lead discussions in pacing, page turns, storyboarding, and visually dramatic storytelling. During this hands-on workshop, writers will be editing their own manuscripts and enhancing their skills as picture book [...]
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Readings! Live music! Antics! Beer! Featuring nationally renowned authors Jose Padua, Monica Prince, Rion Amilcar Scott, Courtney Sexton, and Kate Wagner. Hosted by Amy Freeman, Emily Holland, and Zach Powers, with music by Ralvell Rogers II. FREE and open to the public (RSVP below). Open bar for the 21+ crowd. Donations appreciated. Meet the [...]
Find out moreThe ending is the last thing your reader sees, but will often feel rushed, added on without thought. They key is to find an organic conclusion for your story, novel, or memoir. Is there an epiphany or a question? A traditional plotted ending or an ambiguous, resonant finish? Has your character gained self-knowledge, and will [...]
Find out moreThis day-long workshop will deconstruct and demystify the novel-writing process for struggling and/or aspiring writers. Go all the way from getting the start of an idea to getting your book into the hands of expectant fans. Along the way you'll learn how to stay organized, write in the voice of the opposite sex, the art [...]
Find out moreThis workshop will focus on how autobiography functions as a method of mediating and revivifying past events that hover in the unconscious and surface in the writing process. Through writing prompts, and mini-lectures on poetic craft and history of the genre, participants will learn how the very construction of the poem is a means to [...]
Find out moreImages are one important way that a poem thinks and makes an argument. By improving our description powers we can build stronger poems that reach beyond words to a powerful collective of visual language. In class, participants will look at a few examples, and explore how expansive images can provide us with a toolbox of [...]
Find out moreIn this course, we'll talk about how to write characters from marginalized communities with sensitivity and nuance. Taught by a veteran sensitivity reader and writer who has had work published in Guernica, Washington Post, The Atlantic, New York Magazine, and more.
Find out more"There comes a time,” wrote the late American novelist and short-story writer James Salter, “when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real.” But here’s the problem: the great swirl of experience, observation, sensation and imagination from which all our creative work emerges [...]
Find out moreFor anyone who wants to write a book but needs help getting started, this two session, four hour workshop will get you there! For novels, memoirs, or nonfiction, we'll talk about what goes where and how to get started. Please bring a 50-word description of your book project to the first class.
Find out moreCharacters set in motion a series of events and actions that become the engine of your play. In this workshop we will look at strategies for exploring and developing characters in the early stages of writing your play and discuss ways to assess the potential of the characters to drive action in your story. In [...]
Find out moreThis interactive workshop provides writers of all levels with techniques that reveal the patterns, themes and stories that shape their lives. Participants will practice writing with beginner’s mind, thought labeling to identify hidden ideas and beliefs, and storytelling as a creative path to healing. In this three-hour session, you will write, share, and discuss your [...]
Find out moreYou have a great idea for a story. Do you dive in and just begin writing, or start by drafting an outline? Are you a born planner or a writer who loves to discover stories organically (i.e., a pantser)? Understanding how to structure a well-conceived story around a main character and central conflict, while paying [...]
Find out moreImprove your ear for meter, and fine-tune your understanding of how meter works in poetry. Have you ever wondered how scanning the lines of your first draft can make for a better poem? Do you know why listening for the natural rhythms of speech can strengthen your writing? Guided by an internationally published author of [...]
Find out moreThese are exciting times to be a screenwriter. With more shows and television channels than ever, the opportunities for inventive ways of storytelling increase daily. This hands-on workshop will guide beginning and intermediate screenwriters through the process of crafting a professional-grade screenplay and/or TV pilot. Participants will examine proven methods for adapting fiction and narrative [...]
Find out moreBefore the holiday madness sets in, why not take a personal breather? In just two Saturday afternoons, you can explore several forms of creative writing. By jump-starting with fun exercises, we will circumvent the analytic brain and give imagination a chance to thrive. You will receive tips on how to free up memories and experiences [...]
Find out moreJoin authors Cheryl Head (Judge Me When I’m Wrong), Tara Laskowski (One Night Gone) and Vanessa Lillie (Little Voices) with moderator Angie Kim to discuss their newly released crime fiction! A Detroit PI who struggles to accept her sexuality. A newly divorced woman who tries to recoup in a secretive beach community. A former prosecutor [...]
Find out moreLet’s write a picture book together! After reading a book together, kids and their grownups will choose from a set of colorful, visual prompts. The kids will narrate a story while their grownups help to write the words. Together, they will illustrate the short picture book. The class will end with each child and their [...]
Find out moreDecember 2019
The Word Works, in collaboration with The Writer’s Center, features readings by the poets Joanne Rocky Delaplaine and Reuben Jackson. Café Muse opens at 7 pm with refreshments and classical guitar by Michael Davis; readings begin at 7:30, open mic to follow.
Find out moreIn this workshop, you will read and discuss several short stories by writers who are masters of the form, and then discuss the work you submit to the class. This should be an exciting, energetic class that will offer more insight into the possibilities of story telling and the way craft supports our vision as [...]
Find out moreWrite words that help you grow your business! A thriving, successful business is built on a foundation of powerful words. But many entrepreneurs never learned how to express themselves or describe what they do in a way that feels good or effective in terms of building their business. This one-night course will give authors and [...]
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