The Workshops

INTRODUCTION TO FEATURE WRITING
The workshop is an exploratory course on the fundamental techniques of feature writing. It is designed to equip the student with real-life tips and tools on feature writing to produce thoughtful and evocative pieces worthy of a publication—from profile, news feature or narrative to travelogue and review.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn:
>> How to develop a topic or idea into a feature story
>> How to hook your reader effectively into your story
>> Read effective examples for style and inspiration
>>Produce a blueprint of a potential story pitch at the end of the class

Workshop is composed of lectures, writing exercises, and illustrative examples. Plus bonus tips in marketing your work and personalized critique/feedback on your feature article draft. See Calendar for the latest schedule.

WRITING THE PERSONAL ESSAY
An introductory course on the fundamental techniques of the personal essay, the workshop will familiarize the student with the elements of the personal essay, importance of tone and voice, and creative ways in generating ideas for a piece. Writing exercises will be given to facilitate the student in “freeing his voice” and address his concerns during the actual process of writing.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn:
>> How to develop ideas for a personal essay
>> How to discover your voice and use tone
>> Read effective examples for style and inspiration
>> Practice elements learned during the class

Workshop is composed of lectures, writing exercises, illustrative examples and personalized critique/feedback of your work. Occasionally we include “The Writing Life” coffee session with a guest writer who will share her writing process and tips on the craft. See Calendar for the latest schedule.

LIGHTING THE LAMP IN A HURRICANE: A POETRY APPRECIATION SEMINAR
Poetry comes alive  through the reader. Learn how to read and appreciate poetry without breaking a sweat. Recognize a metaphor even before it bites you in the face. The lecture is designed to shed light on the nuts and bolts of poetry as exemplified by works of poets with different style, voice and artistic agenda. It is envisioned to give the attendee a more familiar grasp of the poetic language that will help him read a poem with a broader and a more creative and critical perspective and hopefully facilitate him in writing his own verses.

One-session, half day workshop (weekday, two-sessions also available). Lecture, a writing exercise, and poetry reading compose the class. See Calendar for the latest schedule.

WRITING ABOUT ART: AN ART APPRECIATION SEMINAR
Like art? This seminar lets participants have an opportunity to encounter a wide variety of abstract and figurative works in a gallery set-up. As a form of interacting with and creating a response towards the artwork, participants will be taught and guided on how to write down their impressions and insights as a preliminary exercise on writing about art.

One-session, half day workshop. Lecture, a writing exercise, discussion and a gallery tour compose the class. See Calendar for the latest schedule.

WRITING BETTER DESCRIPTIONS
A workshop designed  to explore concrete ways in describing an object, person, place or event.  Make your readers experience your essay, feature article, memoir, or blog post with descriptions that glide, pop or sizzle. Paint a still life or capture an event through accurate and significant words. For beginning or advance writers looking to energize their pieces, readers who appreciate a good description, teachers looking for creative ways to teach a writing or composition class, or people who keep a journal to document their personal histories.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn:
>> Observe, regard and look at things like a writer.
>> Review nouns, verbs and modifiers that make or break an effective description.
>> Writing techniques to describe a person, place, thing or event.
>> With free, one-time only after class writing support.

Workshop is composed of lectures, writing exercises, and illustrative examples. See Calendar for the latest schedule.

PROVISIONS FOR A JOURNEY: AN INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL  WRITING
The next time you travel to a destination, become a more observant traveler and bring along helpful provisions with you. With your pen and paper, learn to remember the journey and recreate the sights, sounds, tastes and insights that captured your soul.

This travel writing class focuses more on workshops and in-class writing so you practice what you learn from the lectures on site.  By the end of the class, you will have experienced practical components of writing a travel piece which you can practice again later at your own pace and space.

Workshop is composed of lectures, writing exercises, illustrative examples and personalized critique/feedback on one travel article (previously written or work-in-progress). See Calendar for the latest schedule.