Tag Archives: writing workshop

Writing Your Legacy Letter

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Online via Zoom

A legacy letter is a written document that captures who you are and what matters most to you. It allows you to reflect on your important life experiences and transmit your values and life lessons to future generations. A legacy letter is a way for you to be remembered and for your life lessons to be shared and preserved. It also gives you an opportunity to express gratitude, request forgiveness, or make amends.

Writing one is a rewarding experience that creates an enduring gift for your family, friends, loved ones, and yourself.

This course is designed to introduce the concept of legacy letters and to help you craft your own legacy letter. It includes discussion and writing exercises. Jay will offer advice to help you complete your legacy letter, share it with loved ones, and preserve it for future generations.

All sessions will be recorded and recordings will be available, on request, to students who need to miss a session or want to review the material. Recordings are password protected for privacy and may be accessed only by students enrolled in the course.

The fee for the four-week workshop is $125. The minimum enrollment is five students; the maximum is twenty.

.Jay Sherwin has practiced law, given away money for
five charitable foundations and served as a hospital
chaplain. Drawing on all those experiences, Jay
created the Life Reflections Project to educate people
about legacy letters and ethical wills; he now teaches
classes and workshops on legacy writing and helps
people create their own legacy documents. You can
read more on Jay’s website at www.jaysherwin.com.

I’m Ready to Submit My Writing to Magazines and Journals – But How?

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Via Zoom

You’ve got a few pieces you’re proud of, but how do you get started in the world of submissions? What are the mistakes you want to avoid? In this workshop, you’ll learn where to find publications that are looking for work, proper manuscript format, and submission etiquette. You’ll also draft a cover letter bio appropriate for submissions. And we’ll even talk about those dreaded rejections. You’ll walk out with all the basics to get started submitting — plus a cover letter you can continue to build on.

Topics:

1)  Finding open calls and publications

2)  A look at a journal’s website

3)  A look at Submittable

4)  Submission etiquette

5)  Submission format

6)  Rejections

7)  Cover letter

The fee for the one-day workshop is $50 and is limited to 8 students.

All students must register by Friday, November 4 to receive the Zoom link.

About the Instructor:
Tina Tocco’s writing for children has appeared in Highlights, Highlights High Five, Cricket, AppleSeeds, Humpty Dumpty, Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids, Pockets, and other children’s publications. She is the author of the children’s poetry collection The Hungry Snowman and Other Poems (Kelsay Books, 2019). Tina’s fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have also been published in various literary journals and anthologies, such as New Ohio Review, Crab Creek Review, Potomac Review, River Styx, Harpur Palate, Ovunque Siamo, Best Small Fictions 2019, and Wild Dreams: The Best of Italian Americana. In 2019, she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in fiction. Tina earned her MFA in creative writing from Manhattanville College, where she was editor-in-chief of Inkwell, the college’s national literary journal.

Finding Your Natural Writer Within

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Come immerse yourself in creativity. This experiential workshop explores the deep connections between creative writing, music, and nature. Facilitators will guide participants through unique poetry writing exercises inspired by the beauty and mystery of our natural environment.

Playful warm-ups will include “soundscapes” using accessible musical instruments, and hands-on observations of autumn. With nature and music as touchstones, participants will find their words flowing in a joyful journey to the natural writer that lives within us all.  

This workshop welcomes participants at all levels of experience, from beginning to seasoned writers, and includes time for both individual expression and creative collaboration.

Participants will:

  • Explore original techniques for writing poetry inspired by nature and music.
  • Find connection and community through a writing workshop experience.
  • Discover new pathways to the natural artist within.

Master Teaching Artists Leslie Johnson and Thomasina Levy are highly experienced at quickly creating a safe, supportive group atmosphere.

Come recharge your own creative spirit! Wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes.

This workshop is sponsored by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut State Office of the Arts, which also received support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

COVID POLICY – Only fully vaccinated students will be permitted to attend classes. Physical proof of vaccination will be requested. Don’t forget to bring your vaccination card. Masks are optional.

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Writer’s Lab for All Levels

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Online/In-person

In each 2-hour session, students will spend time developing their own projects in several ways: generating material through timed prompts, brainstorming ideas with fellow students, and receiving supportive feedback. Each of the three sessions is structured based on students’ needs and often includes a quick craft lesson and discussion of relevant literature, as well as a discussion of students’ writing questions, providing an opportunity for shared learning. This class is appropriate for all levels and returning students–new prompts are used. The fee for the 3-week, 6-hour workshop is $105.

Please use the drop-down menu to specify if you are attending in person or via Zoom.

NOTE: The Zoom link is sent out the day before the first class. If you’re registering to attend by Zoom, please ensure you register by Thursday, August 11, to receive the Zoom link.

COVID POLICY – Only fully vaccinated students will be permitted to attend in-person classes. Physical proof of vaccination will be requested on the first day of class (one time only). Don’t forget to bring your vaccination card. Masks are optional.

Nancy McMillan of Bethlehem is the award-winning author of March Farm: Season by Season on a Connecticut Family Farm (www.marchfarmthebook.com). Her work has appeared in the CT Lit Anthology 2020 (Pushcart Prize nominee), Litchfield Magazine, Pangyrus, The Sunlight Press, Persimmon Tree, and Fiction Southeast. Her essays and articles have appeared in Connecticut newspapers and magazines. In her writing classes, she helps students embrace and inhabit their innate creativity. She is currently at work on a novel. Find more at www.nancymcmillan.com.


Writer’s Lab for All Levels

Leave a reply

Online/In-person

In each 2-hour session, students will spend time developing their own projects in several ways: generating material through timed prompts, brainstorming ideas with fellow students, and receiving supportive feedback. Each of the three sessions is structured based on students’ needs and often includes a quick craft lesson and references to relevant literature, as well as a discussion of student writing questions, providing an opportunity for shared learning. This class is appropriate for all levels and returning students–new prompts are used. The fee for the 3-week, 6-hour workshop is $105.

Please use the drop-down menu to register for either the in-person or Zoom option.

NOTE: The Zoom link is sent out the day before the first class. If you’re registering to attend by Zoom, please ensure you register by Thursday, July 14, to receive the Zoom link.

COVID POLICY – Only fully vaccinated students will be permitted to attend classes. Physical proof of vaccination will be requested on the first day of class (one time only). Don’t forget to bring your vaccination card. Masks are optional.

Nancy McMillan of Bethlehem is the award-winning author of March Farm: Season by Season on a Connecticut Family Farm (www.marchfarmthebook.com). Her work has appeared in the CT Lit Anthology 2020 (Pushcart Prize nominee), Litchfield Magazine, Pangyrus, The Sunlight Press, Persimmon Tree, and Fiction Southeast. Her essays and articles have appeared in Connecticut newspapers and magazines. In her writing classes, she helps students embrace and inhabit their innate creativity. She is currently at work on a novel. Find more at www.nancymcmillan.com.


Online with Zoom, Writer’s Lab for All Levels

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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! In this 2-hour session, students will spend time developing their own projects in several ways: generating material through timed prompts, brainstorming ideas with fellow students, and receiving supportive feedback. Each session is structured based on students’ needs and often includes a quick craft lesson and discussion of relevant literature, as well as discussion students’ writing questions, providing an opportunity for shared learning. This class is appropriate for all levels and returning students–new prompts are used. The fee for the 3-week, 6-hour workshop is $105.

Students must be registered by Wednesday, May 11th to receive the Zoom link for this class.

Nancy McMillan of Bethlehem is the award-winning author of March Farm: Season by Season on a Connecticut Family Farm (www.marchfarmthebook.com). Her work has appeared in the CT Lit Anthology 2020 (Pushcart Prize nominee), Litchfield Magazine, Pangyrus, The Sunlight Press, Persimmon Tree, and Fiction Southeast. Her essays and articles have appeared in Connecticut newspapers and magazines. In her writing classes, she helps students embrace and inhabit their innate creativity. She is currently at work on a novel. Find more at www.nancymcmillan.com.


Finding Your Natural Writer Within

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Spring into creativity in this experiential workshop! Celebrating both National Poetry Month and Earth Day, this workshop explores the deep connections between creative writing, music, and nature. Facilitators will guide participants through unique poetry writing exercises inspired by the beauty and mystery of our natural environment.

Playful warm-ups will include “soundscapes” using accessible musical instruments, and hands-on observations of spring. With nature and music as touchstones, participants will find their words flowing in a joyful journey to the natural writer that lives within us all.  

This workshop welcomes participants at all levels of experience, from beginning to seasoned writers, and includes time for both individual expression and creative collaboration.

Participants will:

  • Explore original techniques for writing poetry inspired by nature and music.
  • Find connection and community through a writing workshop experience.
  • Discover new pathways to the natural artist within.

Master Teaching Artist Leslie Johnson Thomasina Levy is highly experienced at quickly creating a safe, supportive group atmosphere.

Come be inspired by the spring season and recharge your own creative spirit! Wear casual clothing and comfortable shoes.

This workshop is sponsored by the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut State Office of the Arts, which also received support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

COVID POLICY – Only fully vaccinated students will be permitted to attend classes. Physical proof of vaccination will be requested. Don’t forget to bring your vaccination card. Masks are optional.

..

Writing Your Legacy Letter

Leave a reply

Online via Zoom

A legacy letter is a written document that captures who you are and what matters most to you. It allows you to reflect on your important life experiences and transmit your values and life lessons to future generations. A legacy letter is a way for you to be remembered and for your life lessons to be shared and preserved. It also gives you an opportunity to express gratitude, request forgiveness, or make amends.

Writing one is a rewarding experience that creates an enduring gift for your family, friends, loved ones, and yourself.

This course is designed to introduce the concept of legacy letters and to help you craft your own legacy letter. It includes discussion and writing exercises. Jay will offer advice to help you complete your legacy letter, share it
with loved ones, and preserve it for future generations.

The fee for the four-week workshop is $120. The workshop is limited to 20 participants.

.Jay Sherwin has practiced law, given away money for
five charitable foundations and served as a hospital
chaplain. Drawing on all those experiences, Jay
created the Life Reflections Project to educate people
about legacy letters and ethical wills; he now teaches
classes and workshops on legacy writing and helps
people create their own legacy documents. You can
read more on Jay’s website at www.jaysherwin.com.

Increase Creativity and Spontaneity in Your Writing

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Online/In-Person

Come explore language and story in a free-wheeling format. If your muse has gone into hibernation, this class will stir her out of her slumber. If your writing is going well but you’d like to incorporate more play into your stories, this class will help you do that.

During this four-week class, instructor Nancy McMillan will introduce you to creativity exercises to open your imagination and crank up your creativity. Students will write during class, preferably by hand, and be assigned optional at-home exercises.

The class is limited to 8 students. All students must register by Thursday, March 4 to receive the Zoom link. Students have the option to take this workshop ONLINE on Zoom or In-person.

COVID POLICY – Until further notice, proof of vaccination is no longer required to attend classes. Masks remain optional.

Please use the drop-down menu when registering for in-person or zoom.

Elements of the Writing Craft

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A Six-Week Multi-Media Series

Via Zoom

Independent study: Videos between classes

The craft of writing requires study and application. In this six-week workshop, Nancy McMillan and Tina Tocco team up to create a multi-media series, providing a deep dive into six central elements of the writing craft.

The weekly workshops include:

  • Setting: More Than Just a Backdrop!
  • Creating Character (and Its Buddy, Point of View)
  • Dynamic Dialogue: Say It Like You Mean It!
  • The Powerhouse Parts of Speech: Nouns/Adjectives/Verbs/Adverbs
  • Gritty Grammar and Comma Clarity
  • Story Openings: Beyond “Once Upon a Time”

This class is delivered in two parts. Each week, you’ll receive a short video (15 to 20 minutes) covering the basic concepts of each craft element. The video can be watched at your convenience and includes optional at-home exercises.

During our Friday class time, we’ll review and discuss the weekly craft element. Then, you’ll write to prompts to apply the new techniques you’re learning. Students can also apply these concepts to their own works-in-progress.

The fee for the six-week class is $240 and the class size is limited to seven.