Have you ever thought about writing a true short story about a moment in your life? In this six-week, sequential course for adult students of all levels, you will mine your memories for storytelling gold, and you will be able to identify and apply the fundamental craft elements of this type of creative nonfiction. By the end of this course, you will complete a draft of a short nonfiction narrative and an outline for a book. In each session, you will be presented with information about a specific craft element of memoir and related writing prompts and passages from a diverse selection of narrative nonfiction for inspiration. Part 2 of this course will be available in winter 2025.
Delaware Art Museum, Thursdays, October 3 - November 14, 2024 (no class on Halloween), 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Write Your Novel
Have you always wanted to write a novel? It's time to get started! Meet other aspiring novelists and become part of a writing community during this six-week course for adult writers of all levels. In an encouraging and supportive workshop setting, you will generate new ideas and learn how to apply the foundational story elements to your work as you begin to transform your ideas into a book-length fictional narrative.
Delaware Art Museum, Saturdays, October 26 - December 7, 2024 (no class on November 30), 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - SOLD OUT!
Winter 2025 Classes
Writing Your Memoir - Part 2
This class is for adult writers who completed Writing Your Memoir - Part 1 or for writers who are already working on a memoir manuscript. In a supportive writing community, you will be invited to review the story elements of memoir with a focus on expansion and revision. You will have the opportunity to share excerpts of your work in progress (though sharing is not required) and generate new material. Each session will provide information on a specific aspect of crafting a memoir, and allow time for encouraging feedback.
Delaware Art Museum, Thursdays, January 16 - February 20, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Fun with Fiction
Adult writers of all levels are invited to join this encouraging and supportive generative fiction writing workshop. You will be presented with a diverse selection of inspiring examples and engaging exercises as you apply the foundational story elements to your work. You will strengthen your writing voice, explore best practices for finding inspiration and building a realistic writing routine. Upon completion of this course, you will have created a draft of a short story and know how to develop an outline for a book-length project.
Delaware Art Museum, Fridays, January 17 - February 28 (no class on February 14), 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Other offerings from my Menu of Classes, which I can present as a one-day class or as sequential, multi-session classes:
Restorative Writing Social Justice Crime Fiction The Writer's Voice Short Story Writing Intro to Creative Writing Write a Winning Query Letter Pathways to Publishing Persuasive Writing PR Essentials for Artists Craft Elements of Story True Stories: Creative Nonfiction Writing The Play’s The Thing: Playwriting 101
Teaching Statement and Biography
I enjoy working with aspiring and established writers of all backgrounds. During spring 2024, I offered my popular Restorative Writing Workshop and led my eight-week course in Memoir Writing at the Delaware Art Museum. I was invited to be a faculty member at the 2024 Killer Nashville International Writers' Conference, and I was one of the presenters at the Wilmington Writers’ Conference in 2020, where I led my sold out workshop, Fighting Fear Through Voice. I have been a guest lecturer at the Philadelphia Community College, Main Line Writers Group, Wilmington Montessori School, and New College of California. I co-facilitated creative writing classes at 826 Valencia in San Francisco, and the Fortune Society in New York. I was a creative writing instructor at Sand Paths Academy and served as the Director of Education at ACE Programs for the Homeless in New York City.
I am currently a Writing Mentor for PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing Program. Earlier this year, I completed the Creative Aging Teaching Artist Training program through Lifetime Arts, sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts and I'm featured in their Artist Roster.
As an award-winning writer with an MFA in Writing, I've had the honor of working with some of my creative heroes. My favorite part of writing is the community and thought-provoking conversations created through this transformative form of communication that has the potential to expand understanding and empathy. My admiration for storytellers and the function of storytelling is the core of my teaching approach.
Teaching Approach
Each person is unique and has stories that matter. I enjoy bridging each person's specific interests to their writing goals. As a writer and as a teaching artist, I am interested in how human experience shapes stories. My trauma-informed teaching philosophy is founded on the recognition of each student as an individual with unique interests and experiences, to be treated with respect and encouragement.
I look forward to helping writers find and amplify their writing voices.