Winter 2007 Workshops at Writers & Books

Creative Writing

A Woman's Voice

• WA7-C01
• 12 Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
• January 17 through April 11 (no class March 7)
• Price $189 W&B members / $199 general public
• Instructor: Karen vanMeenen

This unique workshop offers women a safe, open forum to write stories, poems, essays, and diatribes about what is important to them, what changes have occurred in their lives over time and space, and what remains the same. Participants will be encouraged to keep personal journals, and the class will explore various means of doing so while maintaining interest in the process. Women will share these writings—which will take many forms, according to individual interests—as well as read passages from some of the great women diarists and other writers working in a personal style.

How to register

Register online

The Awakening Writer Enters Spring

• WA7-C02
• One Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• April 14 at the Gell Center of the Finger Lakes
• $37 W&B members / $39 general public
• Instructor: Patricia Roth Schwartz

Get your creative juices flowing with fun and stimulating multi-genre writing exercises—poetry, fiction, non-fiction, journaling— to help your writing bloom into a new season of growth. Music, guided imagery, relaxation, affirmations, a walk outside, and more. All levels of experience welcome. Bring a bagged lunch, wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes. Coffee and tea will be provided.

How to register

Register online

Brain Works: The Creative Thinker's Tool Box

• WA7-C03
• 2 Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• April 21 through 28
• $45 W&B members / $52 general public
• Instructor: Len Messineo

Do you sometimes find yourself at wit’s end in that work-in-progress, hopelessly blocked, digging yourself into the same mental hole? Brain Works will offer writers of all genres a toolbox of creative thinking techniques gleaned from sources as diverse as Aristotle and Edward deBono, as well as borrow from the most recent discoveries in neuroscience. We will look at processes such as freewriting/looping, clustering, decisional PMI, horizon thinking, lotus blossom, and much more. In addition, we will discuss several software programs supportive of creativity and idea generation.

How to register

Register online

The 2000 Word Club

• WA7-C04
• 8 Mondays, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
• February. 19 through April 9
• $149 W&B members / $159 general public
• Instructor: Len Messineo

This class allows students to write and share short fiction and/or creative non-fiction with an enthusiastic audience. The focus will be to study the techniques of fiction and non-fiction side-by-side in order to help students write timely, high-impact, publishable narratives in 2000 words or less. The instructor will also focus are marketing your short pieces.

How to register

Register online

Writing Aerobics

• WA7-C05
• 8 Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m.
• Price $99 W&B members / $129 general public, for the entire season
• Price $20 W&B members/ $25 general public, for individual sessions
• January 13 - Deborah Sullivan
• January 27 - Wendy Low
• February 10 - Robbi Hess
• February 24 - Steve Huff
• March 10 - Patricia Roth Schwartz
• March 24 - Len Messineo
• April 14 - Donna Marbach
• April 28 - Karla Linn Merrifield

Writing Aerobics gets your blood going. It may even burn a few calories. But it is not like running on the treadmill, or sweating it out on the stationary bike. Instead, the emphasis is onimpromptu writing exercises, and heart-pounding spontaneity. However, it is not designed as a competitive class. Work at your own spontaneous pace, learn to tap into your creative subconscious, and write with an ease that only come with pumping the brain muscles. Sign up for individual sessions, or save by signing up for all eight. Either way, no workout will ever give you a greater high!

How to register

Register online