FIRST STEPS: THE BASIC ELEMENTS

FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOPS: SKILLS & TECHNIQUES

FOCUS WORKSHOPS: SPECIFIC PROJECTS

MARKETING YOUR WRITING

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS: SPECIAL SKILLS

ADVANCED WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS

OTHER WRITING TOPICS

FIRST STEPS: THE BASIC ELEMENTS
For the new writer, or anyone who needs a refresher in the basics, these workshops provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals of grammar, punctuation, composition and descriptive writing. Material is presented in a straightforward, practical manner, accompanied by numerous examples and opportunities for self-evaluation. In addition to exercises and/or tests, students will also submit writing assignments for the instructor's feedback and participate in group critique and discussion sessions.

Elements of Effective Writing I: Grammar & Mechanics
Elements of Effective Writing II: Form & Composition
Creativity & Expression
Little Red Writing Workshop

Note: These workshops are not intended to teach English as a second language.

FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOPS: SKILLS & TECHNIQUES
These workshops provide students with the necessary skills and techniques to make their writing more effective and compelling. Each workshop concentrates on the development of a set of skills required for a particular general category of writing. Students will apply what they've learned to writing assignments and receive personal feedback from the instructor. Student work will be posted for group critique, and all students are encouraged to participate in ongoing critique and discussion sessions. These workshops are not a prerequisite for the Project Workshops below, but they are strongly recommended.

Accelerated Getting Started in Writing
Getting Started in Writing
Extended Getting Started in Writing

Accelerated Fundamentals of Fiction Writing
Fundamentals of Fiction Writing
Accelerated Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing
Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing
Fundamentals of Writing for Children
Fundamentals of Life Stories Writing
Fundamentals of Poetry Writing

FOCUS WORKSHOPS: SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Students who have works in progress or specific projects ready for development can bring them to these workshops for professional guidance and feedback. Workshops will focus on idea development; defining of structure and—where appropriate—outlining; research and organization of material; the writing and rewriting process; and marketing strategies as applicable. Students are expected to have a good grasp of mechanics and composition, as well as an understanding of the basic skills and techniques required for project development (an appropriate Craft Workshop is strongly recommended as a preliminary). Writing assignments will be drawn specifically from the work in progress and will be submitted for the instructor's review as well as for group critique. Students are encouraged to participate in ongoing critique and discussion sessions.

Focus on the Novel
  (Project: Working plot outline and opening chapters up to 12,000 words)
Extended Novel Writing Workshop
  (Project: Working plot outline and opening chapters up to 12,000 words)
Focus on the Short Story
  (Project: Two original short stories of up to 4,500 words each)
Extended Short Story Writing Workshop
  (Project: Two original short stories of up to 4,500 words each)
Focus on the Nonfiction Magazine Article
  (Project: Two original nonfiction articles of up to 3,000 words each)
Extended Magazine Article Writing Workshop
  (Project: Two original nonfiction articles of up to 3,000 words each)
Focus on the Personal/Family Memoir
  (Project: Working outline and chapters up to 12,000 words)
Focus on Writing Fiction For Children
  (Project: An original children's fiction story of up to 2,000 words)
Focus on Writing Nonfiction For Children
  (Project: An original children's nonfiction article of up to 1,500 words)

MARKETING YOUR WRITING
Getting published is about more than being a great writer. If you want to see your work in print, you need to know how to approach publishers, agents, or editors with a professional letter, proposal, or package.

Writing the Query Letter
Writing the Novel Proposal
  (Project: Complete novel proposal, with synopsis and sample chapters, up to 12,000 words total)
Writing the Nonfiction Book Proposal
  (Project: Complete nonfiction book proposal, with outline and sample chapters, up to 12,000 words total)
Marketing Your Magazine Articles
Marketing Your Short Stories

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS: SPECIAL SKILLS
These workshops give students the opportunity to fine-tune specific writing skills under the tutelage of a published author. Students may use works in progress as the basis for the writing assignments, but the focus will be on understanding, practicing and applying the specific techniques targeted in each workshop. Writing assignments will be evaluated privately by the instructor and posted for group critique by the class. Students are encouraged to participate in ongoing critique and discussion sessions.

Creativity & Expression
Creating Dynamic Characters
Writing Effective Dialogue
Voice and Viewpoint
Essentials of Romance Writing
Essentials of Science Fiction/Fantasy Writing
Essentials of Mystery Writing
Essentials of Travel Writing
Essentials of Writing to Inspire

ADVANCED WRITERS' WORKSHOPS
For students who have completed an appropriate WOW or WDS workshop, the Advanced Writers' Workshops provide an ongoing opportunity for professional feedback and peer review. Students will submit work at the beginning of each session for the instructor's evaluation. There are no textbooks or formal instruction in these workshops; rather, the focus will be on submitting completed work or portions of a work in progress for evaluation and development. Students are expected to already have an advanced understanding of the techniques involved in their genres and should be able to implement editorial suggestions with a minimum of direction. For this reason, advanced workshops are open only to graduates of requisite workshops or at the recommendation of the instructor and/or the discretion of the director.

Advanced Story Writers' Workshop
  Submissions: Four original stories of up to 3,000 words each
  Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Fiction Writing, Focus on the Short Story

Advanced Article Writers' Workshop
  Submissions: Four original nonfiction articles of up to 3,000 words each
  Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing, Focus on the Nonfiction Magazine Article

Advanced Poetry Writers' Workshop
  Submissions: Six original poems of 25-30 lines each
  Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Poetry Writing

Advanced Novel Writers' Workshop
  Submissions: Five submissions of 10,000 words each, for a total of 50,000 words
  Prerequisite: Any WOW or WDS Novel Writing Workshop

Advanced Memoir and Nonfiction Book Writers' Workshop
  Submissions: Five submissions of 7,000 words each, for a total of 35,000 words
  Prerequisite: Any WOW or WDS Nonfiction or Life Stories Workshop

OTHER WRITING TOPICS

Essentials of Business Writing
Essentials of Technical Writing
Essentials of Scrapbook Journaling
Getting Started (Quickly) in Scrapbook Journaling