Author: Val G.

In this class learners will look through a collection of images and choose one that captures their interest. Then, they will use that image as the prompt to write a scene, describe a setting, or perhaps use as a springboard for a new piece of written work.

In this three-week class, learners will cut up a story that they are stuck on, then use a variety of techniques to restructure it and make it stronger.

In this class learners will vividly describe a place or character. By eliminating everything else that is going on in the scene, that happened before or afterwards, or any other distraction, the result will be a snapshot or a still painting in words of the subject the author is describing.

Even the most avid readers can struggle with the skill of analyzing a work of fiction and then being able to discuss it. In this two-week class we will work through the roadblocks that make analyzing fiction intimidating and talk about ways to make it enjoyable.

In this four-week class students will learn about, watch performances of, write, and perform slam poetry.

The NoSleep subreddit, is well known for being a quality source of short horror fiction that follows a very specific set of guidelines. There are two classes offered:.
A one-time Analyzing the Reddit r/nosleep Story, and a three-week Writing the Reddit r/nosleep Story. NOTE: For these particular classes, the age range is not flexible.

In this class series we will do creative exercises, and then translate what we have done to nonfiction work. This allows readers to approach writing from a completely different angle, and also forces them to think about how to write from a fresh approach. Lessons learned can then be applied to more formulaic writing, making it both easier and less stressful.

In this class, learners are going to play with words, put ideas together in amusing ways, and bring writing into a format that is easy to access. Pieces will receive short feedback each day along the way, and by the end of the eleven-week class series, learners will have a fully formed and revised story

In this class, learners are going to play with words, put ideas together in amusing ways, and bring writing into a format that is easy to access. Pieces will receive short feedback each day, and by the end of this class series we will have a fully-formed and revised story.

Even the most avid readers can struggle with the skills of analyzing a work of fiction and then being able to discuss what they have found. Over a period of twelve weeks, the focus will be on helping learners to gain familiarity and comfort with this skill, and even learn to enjoy it.

In these two ninety-minute sessions, spread over two weeks, we will read fiction literature from queer Black authors, and discuss their work in the historical context, as well as talk about the importance of their work in cultural queer movements.

In this class series learners will study Queer literature, loosely defined here as post-1900s through the current day. We will discuss social opinions and beliefs that shaped queer authors’ lives and writing, as well as censorship and social perceptions. We will also learn about queer authors who broke those frames, and the way that queer people have stood up for themselves – a movement that was reflected in the writing.

In this weekly discussion group we will talk about the current week’s queer news. While often there are a lot more things going on than we can conceivably cover, we will try to tackle as many as possible.
We will also talk about things that make being queer awesome, and things that happen in our week that makes us happy!

This series is comprosed of classes on the Shape Poem, the
Clerihew, the Tanka, and the Haiku, as well as the Terza Rima, Villanelle, and Rondeau .
Poetry has been used for centuries to tell stories and convey emotion. Considered by many to be an art form, poetry uses words to paint emotions and images that can be read or heard. But what goes into creating a poem?

In this ongoing weekly workshop for either ages 11-15 or 14-18 learners are going to play with words, put ideas together in amusing ways, complete exercises, and bring writing into a format that is easy to access. While the focus will not be on completing fully polished works, we will be breaking down mental barriers, and learning to enjoy putting pen to paper or fingers to keys while working on whichever piece they choose to that week.

I’ve had some people inquire as to the best order to take my parts of writing classes. This is the order that I suggest taking them in, although of course they can be mixed at matched and taken piecemeal, and as many or few as you wish! Topics covered are Characterization, Setting, Plot, Scenes and Summaries, P.O.V, Dialogue, and Hooks.

In this eight-day, two-week intensive, we will dive right in and start a new piece, and each following day learn about an apply a specific part of story writing. This intensive, for either ages 11-15 or 14-18, will help to give students the skills and tools to feel confident in learning how to write down their ideas.

Starting creative works, such as stories, poetry, and creative essays can be intimidating, especially for new writers. This class for either ages 11-15 or 14-18 will help to give students the skills and tools to feel confident in learning how to write down their ideas.

In this five-week class, or five-day intensive, we will be exploring what makes fairy tales so attractive to readers. We will then be applying those components to our own writing, in order to create stories that could make up a modern-day book by the Grimm Brothers, and then build upon that knowledge in order to create new worlds of science and/or fantasy.

In this four-week class, four-day intensive, or one hour workshop , students will develop alternate ways of viewing reality, learn how to analyze these newly realized aspects from an author’s point of view, and then build upon that knowledge in order to create new worlds of science and/or fantasy.