I offer an ongoing weekly workshop on Monday evenings in Chapel Hill from 6:30 to 9 p.m.. In the first half of the evening, we write in response to exercises I provide. These exercises serve as suggested writing prompts only - if there is something else you would like to write instead, or if you have an ongoing project you would like to continue with, you should feel free to ignore the exercises. This is a time to generate new writing, however, so whatever work you do should be new - in other words, this time is not to be used for editing or proofing. We usually write for 20-35 minutes during the first half.
At the end of the writing time, we take turns reading aloud what we have just written when we want to, or we "pass" if we prefer not to read. We do not critique or offer ideas for improvement for this brand new writing, because it is fresh and raw, and the writer has not had a chance yet to read it over or do any editing. Rather, we respond positively by commenting on what aspects of the work we particularly like, what is most effective about it, and what is most memorable.
We take a brief break (15 minutes) after the first exercise is finished. In the second half of the evening, we will do one of two things. If one of us handed out a manuscript the previous week for critique (this is completely optional), we discuss it in depth, after which the copies with our notes written on them are returned to the author. I like to begin the discussion with positive comments, concerning what parts we particularly like and what aspects of the piece we think work well. After this, we can move into a discussion of what may not be working so well, what parts may have confused us, and suggestions for improvement. Constructive criticism is allowed during manuscript critique because we are discussing a piece of writing the author has been working on outside the group (although he or she may have initially written some of it during our writing exercises as well) and thus has already had a chance to at least do some initial editing. If there is no manuscript to critique, the second half of the evening will follow the same format as the first, with a different writing exercise.
The workshop is 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The cost is $200 per eight weeks. (Please see the Payments and Policy section for details; a sliding scale is available.)
The workshop location is most often in Chapel Hill. I like to conduct the workshop in a home environment, for the warmth and privacy it provides. Because I live 30 minutes out of town in the country, however, I am unable to do the workshop in my own house. Thus I ask for a volunteer to host the group in their home: a commitment to host for eight weeks in exchange for the workshop at half price. If you live in Chapel Hill and are interested in hosting the workshop, please let me know. If no one volunteers to host, I will try to rent out classroom space.
