Literature & Writing   

Ireland is well known for its great writers, from Jonathan Swift to W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Becket, Seamus Heaney, J.M. Synge, and George Bernard Shaw, among many others. Today that tradition is carried on by a growing list of excellent modern Irish writers. We will read and discuss one book by each of four authors. We will also examine the social, political, and economic environment that shaped their writing. Reading these authors will provide a useful introduction to Irish literature today and hopefully spark your interest to explore more Irish writers and their works.

W.B. Yeats, in his essay "The Celtic Element In Literature," spoke of visions of a world expressed by people who "believed that trees were divine, and could take a human or grotesque shape and dance among the shadows." Once a powerful people who dominated much of Europe, the Celts were reduced to a few small groups after the Roman invasions. However, their mythology survived, thanks largely to the efforts of medieval Irish and Welsh monks who wrote down the stories.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary. We will discuss poetry from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Ever watch a movie and think, "I could write something better"? Now's your chance! This hands-on workshop for beginners delivers practical techniques from working screenwriters in a supportive environment. You'll learn structure that works, create compelling characters, and master visual storytelling. Whether you're adapting your novel or exploring that idea rattling around your brain, you'll gain the skills to write your screenplay and working knowledge of what it takes to get from page to screen. No experience necessary – just stories to tell.