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Workshop Descriptions & Instructors
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Carolyn Lieberg A Crash Course On Short Forms: Short Stories and Essays Ten Thousand Words 29 Points Of Departure
A Crash Course On Short Forms: Short Stories and Essays This class is for people who want to explore two short forms—stories and essays. We will run (or race!) through a crash course in the world of short stories and what makes a story work. We will look at portions of short fiction by a few classic writers and by a few lesser knowns as we discuss structure, character, dialogue, setting, and development. We will then turn to the essay and pay some attention to the elastic rules that guide the form. Again, we will use some examples as a springboard into our discussion, part of which will focus on how an essay develops into a polished wholeness. In order to give you time to read complete pieces and digest what happens on Saturday, we will split each day of the workshop into two sections—one portion for fiction and one portion for nonfiction. Ten Thousand Words How many words would you like to write in a week? During the five days of classes, you will be invited to respond to a wide range of writing prompts, which will focus on different aspects of character, background, and plot. Some of them will be imaginative and some will be from the rich mine of your memory. You will write about various settings, stories, and people, in unlikely voices and from fresh perspectives. Out-of-class assignments will focus on further development of these aspects. If you are considering a large writing project, the week might serve as an opportunity to write background material. If you would simply like to produce a lot material and exercise your imagination, this class will give you a chance to discover new ideas and reveal the solemn, the outrageous, and the beautiful. If you have wanted to venture into the world of writing but did not know where to begin, this class is for you, too. Occasional sharing of these drafted bits will be optional but always welcome. Writers of all levels are welcome. 29 Points Of Departure Would you like to plump your files for new projects or add to background material for current ones? In this intense session, you’ll be invited to mine your memory and experiences and to exercise your imagination. By the end of the weekend, you’ll have twenty-nine (or more) fresh ideas for stories, characters, viewpoints, or scenes. Exercises will include inventing characters and their backgrounds, writing dialogue, riffing on single words, adopting fresh viewpoints, and rediscovering some memories. What you produce may set you off in new directions or give you ideas for stalled projects. We’ll take an occasional break to share some of your writing. Past participants have found the session to be exhausting and satisfying. Bring your favorite pen and lots of paper—or laptop. Writers of all levels are welcome. Biography
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by Instructor Sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education Last updated on January 10, 2008 |
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