Great Smokies Writing Program Announces Spring 2014 Workshops

Press release

Local writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program (GSWP) workshops in poetry and prose. Classes will be held in Asheville, Hendersonville and Burnsville. Class size is limited, so early registration is suggested.

10-week courses for writers of various levels of experience:

Poetry – Kenneth Chamlee will lead “Art Becomes Art: Writing Poetry Inspired by Painting, Music and Other Marvels,” which will explore writing poetry as a response to other art forms. Chamlee is a professor of English at Brevard College in North Carolina. His poems have appeared in The Asheville Poetry Review, The Cumberland Poetry Review, The Greensboro Review, and many others. Class meets Wednesdays, 2:30-5 p.m. beginning Feb. 19, in Hendersonville.

Poetry – In “Eight African-American Poets” with Vievee Francis, participants will focus on diverse contemporary work by eight poets of African descent: Jamaal May, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Janice Harrington, Terrance Hayes, Gregory Pardlo, Yusef Komunyakaa, Tracy K. Smith and Kevin Young. The class will include in-class writing to explore each author’s approaches and methods. Francis is the author of two books of poetry, Blue-Tail Fly (Wayne State University, 2006) and Horse in the Dark (Northwestern University, 2012). Class meets Mondays, 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 17, in Asheville.

Poetry – “Finding a Home for Your Work,” led by Eric Steineger, will focus on crafting publishable poetry. Classes will include workshopping students’ writing and opportunities for constructive feedback. Steineger teaches English at A-B Tech Community College and Mars Hill University and is the senior poetry editor for The Citron Review, an online journal. Class meets Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 20, in Asheville.

Poetry/Prose Poems – Poet Katherine Soniat will lead “Dreams, Memories and Who We Are.” In this workshop, students will explore public and private histories, the intimacies of dream, and how these two focuses can expand and deepen writing. Soniat’s collection of poetry, The Swing Girl (Louisiana State University Press), was selected as Best Collection of 2011 by the Poetry Council of North Carolina. Her most recent collection is A Raft, A Boat, A Bridge (Dream Horse Press, 2012). Class meets Tuesdays from 3:30-6 p.m. beginning Feb. 18, in Burnsville.

Fiction and Creative Nonfiction – In her workshop “Take Three Deep Breaths at Every Stoplight: How to Start Writing and Keep Writing in an Over-Scheduled Life,” Christine Hale will lead writing exercises and discussion aimed at helping busy people find the time and patience to write regularly and well. Hale’s debut novel, Basil’s Dream, (Livingston Press, 2009) received honorable mention in the 2010 Library of Virginia Literary Awards. Class meets Mondays, 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 17, in Asheville.

Fiction – Novelist Marjorie Klein will lead “Stretching the Truth.” Klein uses in-class prompts to trigger recollections and memories, which will then be used as the inspiration for fictional stories. Klein’s first novel, Test Pattern (Wm. Morrow Publishers, 2001) was a Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection. Her nonfiction has appeared in various publications, and she is a recipient of a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. Class meets Wednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 19, in Asheville.

Fiction – Heather Newton, author of the award-winning novel, Under the Mercy Trees, will lead “Such a Character: A Fiction Workshop” for beginning or experienced writers. The course will focus on how to develop believable and compelling fictional characters through effective use of point-of-view, voice, dialog, description and gesture. Students should obtain a copy of Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card before the first class. Class meets Tuesdays from 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 18, in Asheville.

The Novel – Vicki Lane, author of the Elizabeth Goodweather mystery series (Bantam Dell) and the stand-alone novel, The Day of Small Things (Dell, 2010), will teach “A Beginner’s Guide to Novel Writing – The Nuts and Bolts Approach: A Fiction Workshop.” A workshop for beginning or in-process writers who want to write a novel with popular appeal, this class will combine instruction in the basics of setting, plot, characterization and dialogue with practical and cautionary information about seeking an agent, submitting a manuscript and building a career. Class meets Tuesdays from 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 18, in Asheville.

Memoir – Brian Lee Knopp will lead “The Devil You Know: The Art, Skill and Thrill of Writing Your Memoir,” which involves in-class “lifestorming” sessions and writing, at-home writing and reading assignments, and says Knopp, a chance for “a daring rescue of the truth trapped inside your life’s labyrinth.” Knopp’s memoir, Mayhem in Mayberry: Misadventures of a P.I. in Southern Appalachia (Cosmic Pigbite Press, 2009) was a Malaprop’s bestseller. He was the creator and contributing author of the collaborative 2012 novel, Naked Came the Leaf Peeper (Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 2011). Class meets Tuesdays from 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 18, in Asheville.

Writing for Young Readers – Joy Neaves will teach “Find the Core: A Children’s Book Workshop,” for serious writers working on longer works of fiction intended for children and young adults. The class will be devoted to discovering tools that will help self-evaluate, analyze and shape the structure of the story. Neaves was senior editor at Front Street for a decade and is now a freelance editor of children’s books at namelos.com. Class meets Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 18, in Asheville.

15-week courses for advanced, experienced writers only:

Creative Prose Workshop with Tommy Hays – For advanced prose writers who have projects underway (or who want to start something new) GSWP Executive Director Tommy Hays offers “Keeping Ourselves Company: An Advanced Creative Prose Workshop.” Emphasis will be on reading and critiquing each other’s work. The instructor will respond at length to submissions. Instructor’s permission is required for admittance. Hays is the author of What I Came to Tell You (EgmontUSA, 2013), a SIBA Okra Pick and chosen by the Atlanta Constitution as one of best books for children for 2013. His novel, The Pleasure Was Mine, has been chosen for numerous community reads and was a Finalist for the SIBA Fiction Award. His In the Family Way (Random House, 1999) was winner of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Class meets Thursdays from 6:00-8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 30, in Asheville.

Prose Master Class with Elizabeth Lutyens – Elizabeth Lutyens, editor-in-chief of The Great Smokies Review, presents this master class for experienced writers seeking an intensive writing and critiquing experience in a small-group workshop. Master Class members will begin the semester with pages ready for critique and will submit three times during the 15-week course. Each class begins with a half-hour craft session which students will be invited (but not required) to lead. Admission is by invitation; for more information, contact Tommy Hays (hays@main.nc.us) or Elizabeth Lutyens (elutyens@gmail.com). Class meets Tuesdays from 6:00-8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 28, in Asheville.

The 10-week courses qualify for two UNC Asheville credit hours in Literature and Language; the 15-week courses earn three credit hours. For in-state residents, the cost is $275.36 for 10-week courses and $413.04 for 15-week courses. The costs are higher for out-of-state residents. A $20 non-refundable application fee for new students also is required.