One workshop encourages health care professionals to write pandemic stories using the tools of narrative medicine.
The Wilkes University Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing will host a variety of writing workshops in February, March and April. Workshops are open to adults of all ages and experience levels – no prior writing experience needed. They are held in online or hybrid formats and address topics for new or experienced writers. Cost is $100 per series.
A unique offering during the series is a writing workshop designed for healthcare professionals. Taught by Vicki Mayk, “Writing Pandemic Stories: A Narrative Medicine Workshop for Healthcare Professionals” encourages nurses, doctors, pharmacists and other health care workers to write their pandemic stories using the tools of narrative medicine, a field which values storytelling and listening as a means to promote healing, improve care and develop empathy for both caregivers and patients. The workshop will be conducted online from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting March 22 to April 26.
Full descriptions and registration information can be found at wilkes.edu/writingworkshops.
The Writers’ Block: Writing in Community taught by Monique Franz
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 9 to March 16 OR March 16 to April 27
Participants will create a six-week writing goal for new work or work-in-progress and meet their goals with the support of peers and the instructor.
Nonfiction Craft Essentials taught by Sara Pisak
6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays from Feb. 10 to March 17
Basic nonfiction craft elements will be addressed during this workshop that includes participants sharing their work and critiquing each other’s writings.
Underrepresented: Expanding Cultural Schema Through Fiction taught by Monique Franz
1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays on Feb. 19 and 26 OR March 19 and 26
Participants will use writing exercises to communicate diversity through fiction that captivates universal audiences and broadens cultural schema.
Headlines of Your Life taught by Fran Reilly
6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from March 1 to April 5
Using tools from the journalist’s toolbox, participants will investigate and write their own life stories.
Types of Nonfiction taught by Sara Pisak
6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays from March 24 to April 28
Various types of nonfiction will be explored during this workshop including literary journalism, memoir and personal essay.
Plot Twists (and How to Write Them) taught by Megan Tidwell
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays from March 26 to April 30
Participants will explore what makes a plot twist effective through the examination of their own work and through films that are famous for their twists.
Playwriting: Finding Inspiration Through Improv taught by Juliette Dunn
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 2
This workshop emphasizes the creative process by addressing basic improv skills and practicing improv to help generate ideas and write about those characters and ideas.
Setting as Character: Craft a Setting Where Readers Get Lost in Story taught by Monique Franz
1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays from April 2 and 9
This course will provide new and intermediate writers with tools to enrich their writing through focus on setting with exercises that craft captivating landscapes to support tone, character and plot.
Interested participants can register online at wilkes.edu/writingworkshops. Questions can be directed to patricia.naumann@wilkes.edu.
