The Writers’ Workshops announces new classes

Press release

New writing classes, sponsored by The Writers’ Workshop, begin Jan. 25. They are for any level writer and meet at 387 Beaucatcher Road. Registration is in advance only, by mail or online at www.twwoa.org. Financial aid in exchange for volunteering is available. For more information, please contact writersw@gmail.com/828-254-8111.

Jan. 25: Editing and Revising Your Own Work with Karen Ackerson
Writers of fiction or nonfiction will learn how to edit and revise their works before submitting to an agent or publisher. Techniques will be taught on how to grab the reader’s interest by eliminating unnecessary details, building tension, and fine-tuning dialogue and descriptions. Participants may bring ten pages (double-spaced) to the class for discussion. Ackerson is Senior Editor at the Renbourne Editorial Agency, and has edited over 650 stories, books and essays. Meets Saturday, 10-4 pm. $75, or $70 for Workshop members.

Feb. 1: Writing the Short Story with Dale Neal
This class, for beginning or experienced writers, will focus on techniques for crafting the short story. Publishing information will also be given, and students may bring up to 5 pages for in-class review. Neal holds an MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College. His short stories have appeared in Arts & Letters, North Carolina Literary Review, Carolina Quarterly and elsewhere. His novels include The Half-Life of Home and Cow Across America, winner of the 2009 Novello Literary Award. He is an editor and columnist at the Asheville Citizen-Times. Meets Saturday, 10-4 pm. $75/$70 members.

Feb. 22: Novel Writing with Brenda McClain
This class, for beginning and experienced writers, will focus on techniques of crafting the novel – characterization, dialogue, plot, and sense of place. Publication information will also be given, and students may bring up to 5 pages for in-class review. Participants will discuss award-winning novels and engage in writing exercises. McClain’s fiction has received several honors, including the S.C. Art Commission’s Fiction Fellowship. Her work was short-listed for the Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner prize. Meets Saturday, 10-4 pm. $75/$70 members.

March 1: Write Your Life with Richard Krawiec
In this supportive writing-intensive class, participants will learn how to draw on the “material” of your life to write and revise memoirs, stories, or plays. Elements covered include time compression and expansion, how to focus on theme, recognizing your purpose, and developing your piece professionally. Krawiec is the author of numerous books and poems such as “Breakdown: A Father’s Story”, “Faith in What?”, and “Time Sharing”. His work is published in Shenandoah, Florida Review, and N.C. Literary Review, among others. Meets Saturday, 10-4 pm. $75/$70 members.

April 19: Writing Historical Fiction with Anne Barnhill
The class will learn vital aspects of writing historical fiction, including how to make historical figures ‘come alive’, how to use dialogue from another century, where to find research materials, and much more. We will be doing writing exercises geared to historical fiction, as well as taking a brief look at some historical novels to see how other writers work. Barnhill is the award-winning author of numerous books, including At the Mercy of the Queen; Coal Baby; and What You Long For. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC-Wilmington, and teaches workshops throughout the state. Meets Saturday, 10-4 pm. $75/$70 members.