Workshops

Using Stories to Tell the Facts

Reading well crafted creative nonfiction can be a spellbinding experience similar to reading a good novel or watching a beautiful film. This workshop will concentrate attention on how to craft a lively narrative atmosphere in nonfiction forms like memoir, literary journalism, crime writing, essays, and others based on participants' areas of interest. In addition to in-class critique of works in progress, we will look at ways film and fiction use storytelling elements to heighten viewer and reader interest and involvement. Through presenting work to the class as a whole, meeting with the instructor for a private conference, and keeping a writer's journal that reflects on the reading, writing, and viewing experiences, each participant will develop a timeless and invaluable set of narrative tools and strategies. Instructor: Lauren Sarat

Lifewriting

Many people write about themselves in the guise of writing about others. This workshop is for people writing about their own or other people's lives or expanding those categories, with an eye toward publication. We shall examine each other's work with a critical eye for new approaches. Participants should bring work in progress and/or the raw materials and ideas for a structured piece of writing.
Instructor: Carol DeBoer-Langworthy

Lyricism and Lucidity

This workshop offers writers an opportunity to explore the literary essay in “artfully” crafted traditional and experimental formats.  The course challenges students to push conventional nonfiction (“the literature of fact”) into the realm of aesthetic composition, using a range of techniques drawn from literature and art.  Subgenres to consider:  the personal essay, the lyric essay, the cultural critique essay, and the hybrid image/text essay, where we will look at ways of combining written text with graphic and photographic art.
Instructor: Catherine Imbriglio

Real World Tales

In this workshop we'll talk about how to turn the stuff of every day life into compelling personal essays. We'll look at how to use moments as building blocks, talk about the many ways to structure an essay, consider what to leave in and what to leave out and how to use the techniques of fiction while telling a real world story. There will be workshops, readings and plenty of writing prompts to get you going. Students should bring at least one essay (not more than 15 pages) that they would like the workshop to look at and expect to write a draft of at least one new essay that we can talk about in class.  
Instructor: Edward Hardy