Explore the dark self, what Carl Jung called the “shadow” part of our psyche. Sometimes we see it in our dreams, sometimes it appears in dark imaginings. We’ll learn what the shadow can add to our creative writing by experimenting with timed writing, dream journals, guided imagery and Active Imagination.
read moreHave you taken a beginner poetry workshop and want to continue? This is a continuation for students who took Leslie’s Part I class, which started in January. Start from scratch to write poems, read poems, learn about forms of poetry and discuss your work. We’ll use packets of poems, exercises and essays supplied by the […]
read moreUnravel the tales traveling through your head. We’ll explore memory and character with writing exercises that inspire you to put your fears down and get the writing onto the page.
read moreExplore the relationship between words and pictures in a collaborative setting. We’ll use visual images (some found, some created by you) to prompt new creative writing. You’ll create an evolving, book-like object.
read moreExplore the role of place in poetry, focusing on the city of Richmond as a rich source of inspiration and discovery. We’ll read work by poets who have lived in the Richmond area and create new poems inspired by our experiences, challenging ourselves to engage more deeply with the city and the people around us.
read moreWriters approach each stage of the writing process from a different perspective. We’ll try on those perspectives, taking one story from inspiration to completion. What’s the hardest part of your writing process? Beginning? Continuing? Revising? Finishing? Each phase requires a different attitude—we essentially become a different person. In this eight-week course, we’ll try on all […]
read moreIt has been said that ‘all writing is political.’ We’ll explore what this means by reading and reflecting on social protest writing in both poetry and prose. Participants will write their own thoughts and ideas to develop their personal voice and style.
read moreExplore the role of place in poetry, focusing on the city of Richmond as a rich source of inspiration and discovery. We’ll read work by poets who have lived in the Richmond area and create new poems inspired by our experiences, challenging ourselves to engage more deeply with the city and the people around us.
read moreUnravel the tales traveling through your head. We’ll explore memory and character with writing exercises that inspire you to put your fears down and get the writing onto the page.
read moreWe’ll explore the core of your poems, salvaging the best lines and images to create a stronger version of the original. Critiques, class exercises, readings and reflective writing exercises will help you develop an ear for voice and language.
read moreTry your hand at making your own stamp: a fun introduction into the technique of relief printmaking. Take this stamp and make cards and gift wrap for the holidays. Learn how to design and carve a stamp that you can take home with you. December’s Second Friday event will feature a special holiday sale, highlighting […]
read moreTry your hand at making your own stamp: a fun introduction into the technique of relief printmaking. Take this stamp and make cards and gift wrap for the holidays. Learn how to design and carve a stamp that you can take home with you. December’s Second Friday event will feature a special holiday sale, highlighting […]
read moreExplore short story fiction writing by studying narrative craft elements like story, plot, character, scene, structure, archetypal patterns and dialogue. We’ll examine professionally published pieces and your own work. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to begin a story based on a word or an idea. You’ll also understand how to evaluate […]
read moreExplore short story fiction writing by studying narrative craft elements like story, plot, character, scene, structure, archetypal patterns and dialogue. We’ll examine professionally published pieces and your own work. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to begin a story based on a word or an idea. You’ll also understand how to evaluate […]
read moreLearn the ins and outs of freelance writing from a local journalist, who can teach you the art of brainstorming and pitching stories, the etiquette behind communicating with editors, negotiating and selling your writing and the rewarding editing and publishing process.
read moreExplore the connection between meditation and writing. We’ll meditate and work on simple writing prompts that free your mind, get the creative juices flowing and help you get your story down on the page.
read moreExplore the lyric essay, which is dense and shapely like a poem. You’ll explore how, like a poem, this form of writing conveys ideas and feelings using musical/lyrical effects like repetition, rhyme, and rhythm. You’ll also learn that good lyrical essays must engage with the factual since they are not fiction. We’ll work on a […]
read moreStart the new year off on the right foot by developing a structured writing routine. We’ll use regular prompts in these weekly workshops, designed to get your pen moving and your creativity flowing.
read moreExplore poetic short forms to hone your power of observation. Focusing on the haiku and other Japanese short forms, we’ll study examples of each style and do multiple rounds of writing/sharing. Since mindfulness is a central concept in these writings, the class will open with a short meditation. Participants will be encouraged to take what […]
read moreThrough writing, explore and focus on the most meaningful and memorable parts of your life. Thomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the […]
read moreThrough writing, explore and focus on the most meaningful and memorable parts of your life. Thomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the […]
read moreHaving a richly developed world is the seed of good speculative fiction. We’ll study examples of worldbuilding techniques and learn to create richly-developed settings for your personal writing projects. This course will include elements of writing, research, some drawing and exploration of images, as well as workshopping to help participants create their own imaginary worlds.
read moreExplore the dark self, what Carl Jung called the “shadow” part of our psyche. Sometimes we see it in our dreams, sometimes it appears in dark imaginings. We’ll learn what the shadow can add to our creative writing by experimenting with timed writing, dream journals, guided imagery and active imagination.
read moreEssays are arguments, one writer’s attempt to make meaning out of life. People have been writing essays for more than half a millennium but it’s only in the last century that we’ve made them quite so personal. Traditional essays are formal but the personal essay is candid and conversational. It can enlighten and inspire. On […]
read moreHow do you take advantage of the creative opportunities that are present in your writing, and recognise the sparkling moments? Plows turn over top layers of earth so that fresh nutrients can surface. Workshopping your poems in this class will help you uncover rich worlds, too.
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