Wilkes University Offers Public Creative Writing Community Workshops

The Wilkes University Graduate Creative Writing program will offer six non-credit creative writing workshops for the community beginning in September. The workshops meet once a week for six weeks in Kirby Hall, Room 103, and are appropriate for adults of any age or educational level. Registration is $55 for each six-week series, except the very special Memoir Master class being instructed by Kaylie Jones, which is $125.

Kaylie Jones has published seven books, including a memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me, and her most recent novel, The Anger Meridian. Her novel, A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries, was adapted as a Merchant Ivory film in 1998. Jones has been teaching for more than twenty-five years, and is a faculty member in Wilkes University’s Graduate Creative Writing program. She is the author of Speak Now and the editor of Long Island Noir. She also has her own publishing imprint with Akashic Books, Kaylie Jones Books.

To register for any or all of the workshops, please visit wilkes.augusoft.net, click on “courses” in the left-hand menu, and then choose Creative Writing Workshops. For more information, please call 570-408-4547.

Writing Memoir – Master Class

Meetings: Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 108

March 30, April 6, April 13, April 20, April 27, and May 4

Cost: $125.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Kaylie Jones

Many people have the talent to write excellent sentences; few have the understanding of how to structure a marketable book. This six-week master course will first and foremost address the issues of structure in memoir writing. Other topics will include: how to get past the problems of truth versus fiction; how to attain equitability in addressing painful topics; how to get around problems of time sequencing and still remain true to facts; and how to achieve originality and emotional balance in the work.

 Painless Novel Writing

Meetings: Mondays from 6-8 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 103

March 21, April 4, April 11, April 18, April 25, May 2

Note: There will not be a workshop on March 28

Cost: $55.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Jennifer Bokal

Beginning with character goals and motivations and moving through story structure, time manipulation, and essential scenes, this six-week workshop will introduce participants to techniques for painless plotting of a novel. There will also be a bonus session on writing effective sex scenes.

Introduction to Screenwriting

Meetings: Mondays 6-8 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 108

March 21, April 4, April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 2

Note: There will not be a workshop on March 28

Cost: $55.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Kelly Clisham

This six-week workshop will explore writing for the big screen. By reading scripts and watching movies, we will examine the techniques screenwriters use to tell effective stories. We will cover screenplay formatting, and participants will write a short or begin a feature-length screenplay. 

 

Getting Started: Writing Historical Fiction

Meetings: Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 107

March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19, and May 3

Note: There will not be a workshop on April 26

Cost: $55.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Barbara J. Taylor*

* Barbara J. Taylor's Scranton-based historical fiction novel Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night was named both a Best Book of Summer 2014 and a Pick of the Week for the week of June 30th by Publishers Weekly. The book's sequel, All Waiting is Long, is set to be released by Kaylie Jones Books in July of this year. 

Whether you’re thinking about writing historical fiction or you already have a novel-in-progress, this workshop is for you. Through a combination of instruction, discussion, and writing practice, you’ll learn what it takes to create a highly readable story while avoiding some of the pitfalls associated with historical fiction. During our six two-hour sessions, we’ll examine research techniques geared toward historical fiction writers and explore how character, language, and style lend authenticity to this genre.

Advanced Screenwriting: The Revenge

Meetings: Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 103

March 23, March 30, April 6, April 20, April 27, and May 4

Note: There will not be a workshop on April 13

Cost: $55.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Nathan Summerlin

In this workshop, we will look more closely at story, structure, and character in screenplays. Participants can work on an existing project or start a new script. This workshop is designed for those who have taken the Introduction to Screenwriting workshop, or who have some experience with screenwriting.

Revision: Where the Real Writing Begins (Fiction)

Meetings: Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. in Kirby Hall, Room 103

April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23, April 30, and May 7

Cost: $55.00 for the entire series

Instructor: Francisco Tutella

This six-week workshop focuses on completing a first draft of a novel and proceeding to the revision stage. Lessons include exercises for overcoming writer's block and revision practices. Participants should bring the first three pages of their manuscript-in-progress to the first class.