Writing   

Everything beautiful has a beginning. Every flower has a seed. Every work of art has a paintbrush and every poem begins with simple words. In this class we will take a simple statement and turn it into a beautiful poetic phrase. We will begin with a journal and end with a beautiful book with poetic phrases and pictures.

This class is an opportunity to develop your creative writing skills; you may decide to write short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or any other creative genre that appeals to you. The class will be taught in a workshop format; each week, we’ll read works written by class participants and give them feedback on their work. As the instructor facilitates the discussion, you’ll gain insight into key elements of creative writing, including sensory detail, pacing, characterization, dialogue, and the use of scenes as the building blocks of narrative. In addition to having the opportunity to read and learn from each other’s work, you’ll be provided with a guide to creative writing, available at https://tinyurl.com/w4yt4juy. You’ll also have opportunities to contribute your work to an online anthology (available at https://tinyurl.com/ycy29jcd) and to read your work at our Writers’ Café, a hybrid event on a date decided during the semester.

Class members will be invited (but not required) to write a creative nonfiction narrative on any of the following: signs received from a deceased loved one, a near-death experience, a synchronicity that may of divine origin, or any other mystical experience. This class is an opportunity to develop both your insight into “the other side” as well as your talent in writing creative nonfiction. The class will be taught in a workshop format; each week, we’ll read works written by class participants and give them feedback on their work. As the instructor facilitates the discussion, you’ll hone your understanding of key elements of creative nonfiction, including narrative clarity, sensory detail, pacing, characterization, and the use of scenes as the building blocks of narrative. In addition to having the opportunity to read and learn from each other’s work, you'll be provided with a guide on writing creative nonfiction (https://tinyurl.com/yc29ypu9) as well as a compendium of resources on “the other side” (https://tinyurl.com/mtruxcy6). You’ll also have opportunities to contribute your work to an online anthology (https://tinyurl.com/33k9bbbe) and to read your work at our Writers’ Café, a hybrid event that will be held on a date decided during the semester.