Upcoming classes in Naples, Fla.
New workshops and classes begin mid-February and early March. This winter I'm offering a variety of writing workshops and classes at both the Renaissance Academy of FGCU, ACE (Adult & Community Education) program in Collier County, AND through local Country Clubs. (Check with the activities coordinator in your community or have him/her contact me for details.)
Writing Workshops at Renaissance Academy
Click here to register for Renaissance Academy courses.
Writing Short Stories
Wednesday, February 18, 25, March 4, & 11– 1:30-3:30 p.m.
at Naples Center (5th Ave & 10th Street)
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Do you enjoy reading short stories? Would you like to write fiction but do not have time to devote to a novel? Write a short story! In this class, designed for beginners or anyone wishing to explore short stories, participants will learn from published examples while applying short fiction techniques to their own writing. We will explore conflict, characterization, viewpoint, and description as they contribute to plot. Tips on using viewpoint and sensory detail to engage readers, as well as story length and structure, will be covered.
Course: NC6651 | $85 members / $100 non-members
Writing Craft – Become a Better Writer
(the 3-week series of writing craft sessions)
Wednesday, March 18, 25, & April 1 – 1:30-3p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Participants may register for the entire series (NC6652) or for any of the individual lectures below. Dramatically improve your writing skills with this series of workshops and in-class writing exercises. The series will focus on the most important elements of character development, plot, and dialogue.
Course: NC6652 | $70 members / $85 non-members
Writing Craft: Character Development (1 week)
Wednesday, March 18 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Having trouble creating characters that the reader believes could be a real person? In this craft class, we will focus on how to turn cardboard characters into well-rounded personalities that will engage readers. Participants will also learn how to incorporate the essential parts into the story or novel. Students will complete several in-class exercises with time to share and discuss for improvement.
Course: NC6653 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Craft: Plot (1 week)
Wednesday, March 25 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. In this craft class, we will complete several fun in-class activities to demonstrate how to add intriguing plot twists and turns to a story or novel. We will discuss story arc and pacing plus the essential details for plotting: character motivation/desire, action, and temporary resolutions. Time is allotted to share in-class writing for feedback and discussion. All writing levels welcome.
Course: NC6654 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Craft: Dialogue (1 week)
Wednesday, April 1– 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. In this craft class, we will focus on how to properly punctuate and format dialogue, use it to craft scenes that show rather than tell, and use it to provide story and character background. Balancing dialogue with narrative, incorporating actions and thoughts while maintaining viewpoint will be covered. Students will complete several in-class exercises with time to share and discuss for improvements. All writing levels welcome.
Course: NC6655 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Fiction: Genre Details (2 weeks)
Wednesdays April 8 & 15 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Do you enjoy reading and writing short stories? In this short course, you will learn about the various genres of short stories and what elements define them. For example, there are subcategories such as cozy, detective, or police procedure within the mystery category. We will also discuss what details to consider when you are writing for a specific genre.
Course: NC6656 | $39 members / $45 non-members
Click here to register for Renaissance Academy courses.
ACE (Adult & Community Ed) Courses
You must now pre-register for all ACE courses. (Classes with insufficient enrollment cancel 48 hours ahead of start date.)
TUESDAYS 3:30-5:30
Revision Decisions--March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7, 14 [no class March 17 due to winter break]
The real work of writing happens during the revision stage in the writing process. It's time to make decisions to rethink and develop your work-in-progress. In this workshop, participants will work with a variety of revision techniques as they polish a work-in-progress for the final stage in the writing process -- pitching to editors/agents or preparing for self-publishing. After in-class revision time, participants will share excerpts and insights to learn from each other. All types of prose are welcome, including novels, nonfiction books, memoir, personal essays, articles, and short stories. Bring a short 2-page writing sample to each class. ($89) Click to register
TUESDAYS 6:30-8:30
General Creative Writing--March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7, 14 [no class March 17 due to winter break]
If you love to tell stories, this class is for you! Using a variety of prompts, we'll explore different types of writing and how to use language to engage the reader. Learn to create captivating characters, weave intriguing plots, and use sensory detail to engage the reader. We’ll focus on fiction as we explore creative writing elements such as conflict/drama, characterization, viewpoint, pacing, and description through in-class writing exercises. Students of all levels will learn from each other through guided manuscript critique. ($89) Click to register
THURSDAYS 3:30-5:30
Reading with a Writer's Eye--March 5, 12, 26, April 2, 9, 16 [no class March 19 due to winter break]
In this course we’ll read a variety of short stories and essays to examine the writing elements from an author’s perspective. As we break down the sample works, we’ll focus on setting, character, viewpoint, description, dialogue and how those build to create scenes. Then we’ll ask ourselves specific questions related to our own story and essay drafts. The final two weeks will be devoted to applying what we’ve learned from the sample works to our own writing and sharing insights and excerpts for feedback. A perfect class for beginning writers or those interested in discussing stories and essays and a great refresher for intermediate and advanced writers. ($89) Click to register
New workshops and classes begin mid-February and early March. This winter I'm offering a variety of writing workshops and classes at both the Renaissance Academy of FGCU, ACE (Adult & Community Education) program in Collier County, AND through local Country Clubs. (Check with the activities coordinator in your community or have him/her contact me for details.)
Writing Workshops at Renaissance Academy
Click here to register for Renaissance Academy courses.
Writing Short Stories
Wednesday, February 18, 25, March 4, & 11– 1:30-3:30 p.m.
at Naples Center (5th Ave & 10th Street)
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Do you enjoy reading short stories? Would you like to write fiction but do not have time to devote to a novel? Write a short story! In this class, designed for beginners or anyone wishing to explore short stories, participants will learn from published examples while applying short fiction techniques to their own writing. We will explore conflict, characterization, viewpoint, and description as they contribute to plot. Tips on using viewpoint and sensory detail to engage readers, as well as story length and structure, will be covered.
Course: NC6651 | $85 members / $100 non-members
Writing Craft – Become a Better Writer
(the 3-week series of writing craft sessions)
Wednesday, March 18, 25, & April 1 – 1:30-3p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Participants may register for the entire series (NC6652) or for any of the individual lectures below. Dramatically improve your writing skills with this series of workshops and in-class writing exercises. The series will focus on the most important elements of character development, plot, and dialogue.
Course: NC6652 | $70 members / $85 non-members
Writing Craft: Character Development (1 week)
Wednesday, March 18 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Having trouble creating characters that the reader believes could be a real person? In this craft class, we will focus on how to turn cardboard characters into well-rounded personalities that will engage readers. Participants will also learn how to incorporate the essential parts into the story or novel. Students will complete several in-class exercises with time to share and discuss for improvement.
Course: NC6653 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Craft: Plot (1 week)
Wednesday, March 25 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. In this craft class, we will complete several fun in-class activities to demonstrate how to add intriguing plot twists and turns to a story or novel. We will discuss story arc and pacing plus the essential details for plotting: character motivation/desire, action, and temporary resolutions. Time is allotted to share in-class writing for feedback and discussion. All writing levels welcome.
Course: NC6654 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Craft: Dialogue (1 week)
Wednesday, April 1– 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. In this craft class, we will focus on how to properly punctuate and format dialogue, use it to craft scenes that show rather than tell, and use it to provide story and character background. Balancing dialogue with narrative, incorporating actions and thoughts while maintaining viewpoint will be covered. Students will complete several in-class exercises with time to share and discuss for improvements. All writing levels welcome.
Course: NC6655 | $29 members / $35 non-members
Writing Fiction: Genre Details (2 weeks)
Wednesdays April 8 & 15 – 1:30-3 p.m. at Naples Center
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Do you enjoy reading and writing short stories? In this short course, you will learn about the various genres of short stories and what elements define them. For example, there are subcategories such as cozy, detective, or police procedure within the mystery category. We will also discuss what details to consider when you are writing for a specific genre.
Course: NC6656 | $39 members / $45 non-members
Click here to register for Renaissance Academy courses.
ACE (Adult & Community Ed) Courses
You must now pre-register for all ACE courses. (Classes with insufficient enrollment cancel 48 hours ahead of start date.)
TUESDAYS 3:30-5:30
Revision Decisions--March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7, 14 [no class March 17 due to winter break]
The real work of writing happens during the revision stage in the writing process. It's time to make decisions to rethink and develop your work-in-progress. In this workshop, participants will work with a variety of revision techniques as they polish a work-in-progress for the final stage in the writing process -- pitching to editors/agents or preparing for self-publishing. After in-class revision time, participants will share excerpts and insights to learn from each other. All types of prose are welcome, including novels, nonfiction books, memoir, personal essays, articles, and short stories. Bring a short 2-page writing sample to each class. ($89) Click to register
TUESDAYS 6:30-8:30
General Creative Writing--March 3, 10, 24, 31, April 7, 14 [no class March 17 due to winter break]
If you love to tell stories, this class is for you! Using a variety of prompts, we'll explore different types of writing and how to use language to engage the reader. Learn to create captivating characters, weave intriguing plots, and use sensory detail to engage the reader. We’ll focus on fiction as we explore creative writing elements such as conflict/drama, characterization, viewpoint, pacing, and description through in-class writing exercises. Students of all levels will learn from each other through guided manuscript critique. ($89) Click to register
THURSDAYS 3:30-5:30
Reading with a Writer's Eye--March 5, 12, 26, April 2, 9, 16 [no class March 19 due to winter break]
In this course we’ll read a variety of short stories and essays to examine the writing elements from an author’s perspective. As we break down the sample works, we’ll focus on setting, character, viewpoint, description, dialogue and how those build to create scenes. Then we’ll ask ourselves specific questions related to our own story and essay drafts. The final two weeks will be devoted to applying what we’ve learned from the sample works to our own writing and sharing insights and excerpts for feedback. A perfect class for beginning writers or those interested in discussing stories and essays and a great refresher for intermediate and advanced writers. ($89) Click to register
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