CCCC Creative Writing Program

Spring: 2010 Course Offerings

8-10 week classes

[ordered alphabetically by instructor name]

Instructor

Writing Novels for Children, This course will teach aspiring authors the fundamentals of writing novels for middle-grade (ages 8-12) and young adult (ages 12+) readers and how to submit their novels for publication. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM, Jan. 20 - Mar 10, $130

John Claude Bemis has a wealth of experience in children's literature, both teaching novels and writing them. The first book in his trilogy, The Nine Pound Hammer, will be released this summer.

Intensive Artist's Way will follow the exercises, creative play, journaling, and role-playing proposed by Julia Cameron. The course nurtures creative breakthroughs in participants' artistic work. Tuesdays 3:00-6:00 PM, Jan 26-March 16. $125.

Laurie Billman is a psychotherapist, a poet, and experienced leader of The Artist's Way course. Her poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies.

Poetry Writing Workshop II will provide a format and ambience to work on craft, concept and voice through feedback, revision, and exposure to poetry models. Students will write at least one poem a week and submit to the class for critique, Thursdays, Jan 28- April 1, 6-9 PM, $140

Tom Dow's poetry has appeared in numerous journals. He's taught English and creative writing courses in North Carolina and Japan and published a book of poems, Different Gates.

Creative Nonfiction & Personal Essay. In this class, participants will learn to use the elements of fiction and nonfiction to enrich their personal essays for family, friends, and possible publication; to write clear, brief, thoughtful, and interesting nonfiction—true stories.. Thursdays, January 21-March 25, 11 AM - 1 PM, $120

Linda Hobson is a writer, editor, and teacher of literature and writing. She edited Dean Smith’s recent book, The Carolina Way, and has published two books on the novelist and essayist Walker Percy. She was Executive Director of the N.C. Writers’ Network for six years.

The Tradition Helps Find Your Poetic Voice is a method used by writers through the ages. Reading Homer, Sappho, Ovid, Chaucer enrich the poet’s imagination and vocabulary, stimulate imagery, myth-making, richer sound quality, and fresh visions of human life and meaning. Mondays, March 1-April 26, 7-9 PM, $105.

Judy Hogan is the author of five books of poetry, two of creative non-fiction, has taught Creative Writing for 35 years. Through her Durham-Burlington Roadmap Library Programs (1980s) she learned that writers find their unique voices fastest by reading and imitating excellent models.

Write Where You Are. Learn to write compelling short non-fiction and poetry from one's real surroundings: family, home, community, job, one's own past. Learn to give constructive feedback and integrate others' suggestions into better drafts. Monday, 6-8 pm, Jan 25-Mar 15. $115.

Tim McKee is a writer, teacher, and editor. His book No More Strangers Now: Young Voices from a New South Africa was an Honor Book for the Jane Addams Book Award. Tim lives in Bynum and is the managing editor of The Sun magazine.

Writing Fiction to Sell will prepare fiction writers for the realities of the market. We will cover the current market, development of compelling characters, plotting and dialogue. We'll practice giving critiques, taking criticism, writing query letters and synopses, and submitting to agents and editors. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9:30, Feb 4-March 25, $142

Judith Stanton is an ex-literature professor who writes award-winning historical romance novels. Wild Indigo and His Stolen Bride are set in the Winston-Salem Moravian community of 1796.

Spring 2009-2010 Shorter Workshops

[ordered by date offered]

Instructor

Whittling Words: Editing the Essay Learn how to edit a non-fiction piece. Participants will learn how to correct errors, trim excess, enliven language, rearrange sentences, and navigate sensitive topics so that the piece maximizes its impact on readers. Saturday Feb 6, 10 AM - 5 PM, $65

Using Emotional Truth to Power Your Fiction Writing.

This workshop will help students understand dramatic arch, character development and plot in terms of emotional truth, i.e. what the characters experience in the story rather than what they do in the story, and how focusing on the emotional truth of a story will engage their readers and allow their stories to “ring” true. Saturday February 20, 1-5 PM, $40

Carrie Knowles is an award-winning writer of essays, short stories, book reviews, poetry, and articles. Her non-fiction book: The Last Childhood: A Family Story of Alzheimer's has been noted as one of the top 100 books written on Alzheimer's. Her short fiction has received numerous awards including the Glimmer Train Short Fiction Award.

Finding Inspiration: Ekphrasis & Image This all-day workshop is based on ekphrasis: the literary representation of a visual art - painting, sculpture, photography, architecture. The aim is to distill a complex visual image into the span of a poem. Poems will be generated and shared. Saturday February 27, 10 am - 5 pm, $60

Valerie Nieman teaches writing at NC A&T. She is an award-winning author who's published novels, stories, poetry, and essays. Her latest novel, Feral (Press53), will be out next year.

So You Want to Write A Children's Book. In this half-day workshop for beginners, you'll get a basic understanding of children's book genres, mine your life for ideas, learn the business from jargon to query to rejection, and identify the tools of the trade. Saturday March 13, 10 AM - 4 PM, $45

Kelly Starling Lyons is a freelance writer and children's book author. Her books include CCBC Choices picture book, One Million Men and Me, the chapter book NEATE: Eddie's Ordeal, and two picture books forthcoming from Penguin/GP Putnam's Sons.. Her articles and essays have appeared in local and national publications.

Intro to Creative Journaling will develop participants' freewriting ability through prompts and creative writing exercises. We'll use journaling for generating topics, bypassing writer's block, and personal growth. March 20, Saturday, 9 AM - 6 PM. $65

Megan Cutter is a professional writer, editor and photographer who advocates journaling for dealing with life's transitions, finding empowerment, aiding spiritual practice, and healing.

Be the Bamboo: Writing to Engage in Life Moment-to-Moment. This half-day workshop will explore the kind of attention that enables a writer to create vivid descriptions and communicate the true essence of something whether it be pine, bamboo, or black buzzards dancing on a tin roof. Saturday April 24, 2 pm - 5 pm. $40

Susan Broili spent 30 years as a journalist for The Herald-Sun, Durham, as a feature, arts and food writer. She's been a dance critic, crime writer, columnist and editor of an arts and entertainment magazine. She's published poetry and essays.

Self-Publishing Basics. A full-day workshop in which you will learn the who, what, and why of self-publishing, including where you can go to get more information, when you should get started, and how, exactly, you can accomplish your goals. For all projects from a family cookbook to a profitable business. Saturday May 8, 9am - 4 PM, $60

Adrienne Ehlert-Bashista is the owner of drt press, a Pittsboro micro press specializing in books about adoption. She's a children's librarian, a blogger, and a book reviewer, as well as author of two picture books and several children's short stories.