Explore short story fiction writing by studying narrative craft elements like story, plot, character, scene, structure, archetypal patterns and dialogue. We’ll examine professionally published pieces and your own work. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to begin a story based on a word or an idea. You’ll also understand how to evaluate […]
read moreExplore the dark self, what Carl Jung called the “shadow” part of our psyche. Sometimes we see it in our dreams, sometimes it appears in dark imaginings. We’ll learn what the shadow can add to our creative writing by experimenting with timed writing, dream journals, guided imagery and Active Imagination.
read moreThis one-session workshop class is for nonfiction writers (new or long-term) looking to try out the workshop experience, get fresh feedback on their work, and make new connections in the process. Students will submit and read each other's work prior to class.
read moreIn this 4-week workshop, we'll read short essays for inspiration and craft study, then practice the art of concision in our own work. We will use excerpts from Ross Gay's The Book of Delights and other short essay examples.
read moreDo you have story ideas but don’t know where to start? Are you wondering what to do with those completed story drafts that need revision? Or, maybe you’re a first-time writer looking for a way into the work? In this two-day intensive, we break down specific craft elements (POV, time management, characterization, etc), and then […]
read moreThis class focuses on basic tips for revising poetry, giving and receiving constructive poetic feedback, and how to further revise a poem after a group workshop. First, we'll get inspired by topics or prompts discussed in class and revise poems you have been working on to get them workshop-ready. Then, workshop your poem among peers […]
read moreDive into screenwriting in this seven-week class exploring the core elements of storytelling: character, conflict, and climax. This class breaks down the essentials of a compelling script, exploring how to craft memorable characters, create dynamic conflict, and build tension to a powerful climax. You'll have the chance to develop your ideas from concept to outline, […]
read moreBeyond the fundamentals of point-of-view considerations in fiction, we will study how the limitations of each POV can actually result in thoughtful and experimental storytelling. You will write in this class!
read moreIn this intro-level fiction writing class, we’ll explore different understandings of time and what they can do to our writing. We’ll learn about cyclical time, déja vu, spacetime, and the twin paradox. There will be plenty of in-class prompts. You are wel
read moreThis course is designed for anyone interested in the techniques and development of visual journaling. We'll review the contributions of visual diarists such as Dan Eldon and Frida Kahlo. Each session will begin with a short presentation on a visual diarist, technique, or significant artist with follow up time for guidance, feedback, and group discussion.
read moreIn this intro-level fiction writing class, we'll explore different understandings of time and what they can do to our writing. We'll learn about cyclical time, déja vu, spacetime, and the twin paradox. There will be plenty of in-class prompts. You are welcome to use the class as an opportunity to write memoir or nonfiction as […]
read moreHave you taken poetry workshops at VisArts? Do you feel ready to deepen your craft? Work with other experienced writers to study, learn new forms and critique your classmates' work.
read moreBorn in a time characterized by intense change throughout Japan, Matsuo Kinsaku, later known as Matsuo Basho, becomes the most famous poet of the Edo period. Both his poetry and prose continue to inspire readers and writers today. Come learn about his life and work and then write and workshop your own Basho inspired poem.
read moreErasure is a form of poetry in which a source text’s words are removed in some way to create a poem. In this class, you will learn about erasure’s long history of collaboration and confrontation. Erasure today is most often used as a means of both partnership with a given text, or protest against it. […]
read moreThis course is designed for anyone interested in the techniques and development of visual journaling. We'll review the contributions of visual diarists such as Dan Eldon and Frida Kahlo. Each session will begin with a short presentation on a visual diaris
read moreIn this week-long intensive by the Youth Experimental Performance Collective, you and your fellow students will collectively write an original play based on unconventional writing exercises, including short readings, emphasizing the exploration rather than comprehension of language. Whether you create a more traditional script or something more unconventional, the class will offer a flexibly structured […]
read moreThomas Larson writes that “memoir is most successful when it is not the ‘story of a life,’ but a focused part of that life—a dozen summers spent working on a grandfather’s farm, a long relationship with a dying relative, the first year of law school.” You’ll work with writing prompts and timed writing exercises, and […]
read moreThis one-session workshop class is for fiction writers (new or long-term) looking to try out the workshop experience, get fresh feedback on their work, and make new connections in the process. Students will submit and read each other's work prior to class.
read moreGot ideas for a science fiction or fantasy story but aren’t sure how to approach it? Have you wanted to try exploring these imaginative genres but need a push to get started? Looking for like-minded folks with whom to share work and explore ideas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is […]
read moreExplore the possibilities of the prose poem. Each week, we'll read and discuss examples of prose poems (historic and contemporary), then use these conversations to inspire us as we write prose poems of our own.
read moreThis workshop is for students who have some experience writing poetry and are looking to dig deeper into their writing practice. In this poetry workshop, we'll read published poems (written by contemporary and historical poets), and we'll use this work to inspire our own creative writing work. We'll write poems, and we'll spend time discussing […]
read moreTogether we will read, follow, and discuss The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. We'll experiment with other "inspiration texts" as well, plus write on the spot, share intentions and outcomes, set and pursue individual goals (submitting work for publication, for example), and meet new community. Bring dinner for yourself and get comfortable.
read moreThis writing class dives into the world of artist’s statements and is geared toward artists at any stage in their studio practice. During class time, you will complete exercises to develop a unique writing practice. The instructor will present about the ways artists have used the written word historically and about how artist’s statements shape […]
read moreExplore the relationship between words and pictures in a collaborative setting. We’ll use a wide range of visual images (including, but not limited to: photographs, paintings, postcards, and comics) to prompt new creative writing, in the style and genre of your choosing.
read moreComics are a magical bridge from text to image. Working with prompts, we will experiment with combining images and words to make something greater than the sum of its parts. No prior experience necessary.
read more