Iowa Summer Writing Festival


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Workshop Descriptions & Instructors Marilyn Abildskov Mary Allen Kate Aspengren Thomas Fox Averill Nancy K.Barry Timothy Bascom Kyle Beachy Karen Bender Linda Bendorf Maudy Benz Venise Berry Bruce Bond David Bouchier Michael Dennis Browne Maggie Conroy Mary Cross Thomas K. Dean Amber Dermont Janet Desaulniers Kelly Dwyer Hope Edelman Josh Emmons Jill Esbaum Sarah Fay Hugh Ferrer Katie Ford Geoffrey Forsyth Cecile Goding Douglas Goetsch Sands Hall Christine Hemp Jim Heynen Rick Hillis Charles Holdefer Richard Jackson Rebecca Johns Cheryl Fusco Johnson Wayne Johnson Daniel Khalastchi Carolyn Lieberg BK Loren Peter Markus Fritz Mc Donald James McKean Gordon Mennenga Sharelle Byars Moranville Michael Morse Barbara Robinette Moss Marc Nieson Shannon Olson Diana Ossana Lon Otto Juliet Patterson Kiki Petrosino Mark Jude Poirier Leslie Carol Roberts Anjali Sachdeva Sarah Saffian Sam Samuels Sandra Scofield Mary Kay Shanley Robert Anthony Siegel Carol Spindel Karen Subach Mary Vermillion Kris Vervaecke Ashley Warlick Michelle Wildgen Bart Yates	Linda Bendorf Writing about Nature from an Urban Perch Weekend Workshop July 18–19 Jumpstarting Your Creativity One-Week Workshop July 19–24 Biography Writing about Nature from an Urban Perch Weekend Workshop July 18–19 “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” —Rachel Carson How does the natural world shape and enrich our identity? How do we respond in turn? How does our physical environment enter our work as writers? How do we consciously craft our responses …perhaps to reach a larger audience? Whether you experience nature in a nearby preserve, the narrow patch of grass between strip malls, the hollows of an ancient oak, or the fury of a violent storm, this workshop is an invitation to explore the landscape of connection between self and our physical environments. Before we meet this summer, I invite you to keep a journal or notebook from your urban outpost, of observations, experiences, wild moments and reflections; and to read a sampling of passages by those who have explored this terrain. In our brief but focused time together, through writing exercises and discussions, you will craft a variety of short, compelling pieces (poetry, personal essay and literary vignette) that convey your passion for the natural world. Jumpstarting Your Creativity One-Week Workshop July 19–24 Is your creativity on hiatus? Do you love the power and beauty of language, but lack time or inspiration? As writer Donald Murray suggests, it takes a destination and a plan to make surprise possible. Whether you seek to restore personal or professional creativity and innovation, serious work requires serious play. Even if you’ve taken this workshop before, this newly revised course invites you to recharge. Before the workshop begins, I’ll ask for a letter telling me what you think creates gridlock in your writing life. During our high energy, focused, yet flexible workshop, plan to generate all new work. We’ll plunge into exercises and strategies to spark creativity and to bypass mental roadblocks. We’ll write quickly to stay ahead of the inner critic, and boldly to outsmart the censor. Experience a marketplace of ideas where strategic writing prompts invite you to take intellectual and creative risks that lead to breakthrough thinking and compelling results. In good workshop fashion, we’ll share our work as time allows, and send you off with a storehouse of ideas and drafts to motivate long after the workshop ends. Biography Linda Bendorf (M.A.T., J.D., The University of Iowa) is a writer and award-winning teacher with over twenty years of experience inspiring students of all ages. She participated in the Iowa Writing Project, taught essay writing at the Belin Blank International Center for Gifted Education, and served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Coe College, as well as Language Arts and Reading Consultant at ACT, Inc. She was selected Iowa City’s Outstanding Young Educator in the Iowa City Community Schools. Linda’s columns and features have appeared in publications nationwide, including USA Today, Gannett News Service Wire, The Des Moines Register, Instructor, and The Iowan. Her poetry has appeared in 100 Words, The University of Iowa Daily Palette and the Chicago Public Library Poetry Fest edition of CRAM 2008. She and her husband live in the Chicago area, where Linda is Director of Blue Sage Writing (www.bluesagewriting.com).

	Site Map \| Welcome \| Workshops by Session Date \| Workshops by Instructor Workshops by Genre \| Registration & Housing Information \| Registration Form Sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education Iowa Summer Writing Festival C215 Seashore Hall The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Phone 319-335-4160 FAX 319-335-4743 iswfestival@uiowa.edu Last updated on February 10, 2009