The Writer’s Studio

The Writer’s Studio: a year of creative writing courses, workshops, and more

This creative writing program consists of the following:

• Six courses
• Bi-weekly mentor workshop groups
• Several one-on-one consults with your mentor throughout the year
  
• Public readings (including training) of your work
• Readings and talks from mentors and featured guest authors
• The launch of emerge (our annual student anthology)
• A handful of other events

Core courses

Manuscript course (you’ll choose one of two options):

Note: You may take one or both manuscript courses. If you choose to complete the creative writing certificate in addition to The Writer's Studio program, one manuscript course will count as a core course, and the other will count as an elective.

Electives

If you would like to complete the creative writing certificate, choose 24 elective hours from any of our intermediate or advanced courses in creative writing, journalism, editing, publishing, technical communication, or business communication and professional writing. These hours are not included in The Writer’s Studio program tuition.

Writing workshops with mentors

You’ll meet regularly with eight other writers in your mentor workshop group, which your mentor will facilitate. You’ll work with the same group for the entire year, in one of the following genres: fiction, poetry and lyric prose, or non-fiction and narrative.

After receiving training in our workshop process in Manuscript Critique for Writers, you'll continue to develop your skills in giving and receiving constructive feedback throughout the winter, spring, and early summer within the context of your mentor workshop group. In the fall, you'll identify the contents of your final portfolio (which will require 20 to 30 pages of writing), do the necessary revisions to bring it to final draft, and continue to workshop your new writing.

Toward the end of the program, the focus of these workshops will shift to revising your writing and completing your portfolio.

Mentor and guest readings

In February and March, each mentor will read from a selection of his or her published work, give an informal talk about his or her writing process and professional life, and share some tips on giving effective public readings.

During the spring, we also invite local and regional authors to read from their recently published books. Each will give an informal talk about his or her writing process and professional life, and answer questions.

Student readings

In these three “in-house” student readings, which will take place on Monday evenings in June, you will build your confidence as you read aloud from your works-in-progress and receive feedback.

Emerge launch

All students will work on the production of emerge, The Writer’s Studio’s annual anthology. Some will work on the book production (April to September), and others will work on promotion (August to October).

Other events

Orientation Day
Saturday, January 7, 2012, 12 noon–4:30 pm

You’ll meet with the mentors, Writer's Studio staff, and the other writers in the program to get to know one another. There will be a presentation on the philosophy that shapes the design and structure of The Writer’s Studio. You’ll have an opportunity to explore your expectations and ask questions.

Mentor salons
In addition to ongoing mentor workshop groups, each mentor will also offer a genre-specific salon that is open to all interested students in The Writer’s Studio.

Reconnection Day
Saturday, September 8, 2012, 10 am–4 pm

In the morning, you’ll learn about the importance and techniques of performance from Hal Wake. Then, in the afternoon, you’ll reconnect with The Writer’s Studio mentors and student body and learn about the final two months of the program, during which you'll prepare for the launch of emerge, our student anthology, and complete your final portfolio. You’ll have an opportunity to reflect on your progress as a writer and on The Writer’s Studio program.

Emerge launch
October 2012, date TBA

At a gala event that celebrates the launch of emerge, you will present an excerpt of your work to invited guests, your colleagues in The Writer’s Studio, and the general public.