The Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University is hosting non-credit creative writing community workshops this fall. All workshops are open to adults and will be held on the Wilkes campus.
A highlight of the fall workshops will be a master class on writing young adult and middle-grade fiction. It will be presented by creative writing faculty member Lenore Hart who is the author of nine books including the novels Waterwoman; Ordinary Springs; The Raven’s Bride; Becky; and The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher.
The cost for each workshop series is $65. The master class is $125 for the weeklong series. Advance registration is available through the university’s Continued Learning website wilkes.augusoft.net. The workshops include:
Master Class: If You Know What I Mean: Writing Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction
The workshop will focus on genres clear fairy-tale and mythical underpinnings, their characters and plots and settings, and the qualities editors tend to look for in historical or contemporary work. It will also discuss crucial craft issues such as point of view and mixing genres, and what themes are allowed — or not — in the contemporary publishing marketplace.
- Workshops: Oct. 2-5, 6 to 8 p.m., Kirby Hall, Oct. 2 class will meet in Breiseth Hall; Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kirby Hall
- Instructor: Lenore Hart
First Steps in Fiction
This is an introductory workshop in fiction writing. Students may bring a project you already have in the works, or develop one in class. The focus will be on description and detail, character and dialogue, setting and place, and voice and point of view. The class will consist of topic discussion, a short writing segment, constructive feedback, and revision.
- Workshops: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kirby Hall, Oct. 7-21
- Instructor: Jennifer Jenkins
Beginner’s Blogging Workshop
This workshop will teach the basics of blogging, set up your first personal blog, and learn about the many ways you can create engaging content to build and maintain an audience. Each six-week session begins with a lecture on the topic at hand, followed by a guided activity session with the instructor and your fellow classmates.
- Workshops: Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m., Breiseth Hall, Sept. 12-26 and Oct. 3-17
- Instructor: Angela Greco
Playwriting: Playwriting in Two Parts
This two-part playwriting workshop will teach students how to write a play, with an assignment to write a short one-act or 10-minute play and return the following week for a read through and critique of their work.
- Workshops: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kirby Hall, Sept. 16 and 23
- Instructor: Jan Quackenbush
Elements of Narration
Through examples and exercises, this workshop will teach you how to choose and better employ narrative techniques (such as point of view and voice) to engage the reader with your fiction.
- Workshops: Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m., Kirby Hall, Sept. 13-27 and Oct. 4-18
- Instructor: Anthony Kapolka
Advanced Social Media Writing Workshop: Branding, Marketing, and Publishing
Social media platforms and online publishing tools are now, more than ever, used to create a personal brand, market yourself and your work, connect with your writing colleagues, and even self-publish your work. This workshop is divided into lecture and activity sessions, and each class will have a take-home assignment. Social Media Workshop suggested as a prerequisite to this course.
- Workshops: Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m., Breiseth Hall, Sept. 14- 28 and Oct. 5-19
- Instructor: Angela Greco
