Learn how to share your food experiences--whether in a kitchen or a restaurant--through blogging with Virginia’s Secretary of Taste, chef and award-winning food journalist Patrick Evans-Hylton. We explore the essence of eating, and learn how to express your thoughts in a clear, concise and compelling way. We will be eating--and imbibing--and getting the most from all of our senses to fully appreciate food and drink through the written word and photography. In this introduction to food blogging, learn about the…

In this one-time workshop, you’ll get the tools you need to get your resume shaped up and ready for action. Bring your laptop and several postings for jobs that interest you, and learn the tips that will make your resume the one that’ll earn the interview. (After that, it’s up to you!)

Though we yearn for intimate connection--physical and emotional--romantic relationships are both a source of deep delight as well as a cause for grave anxiety and sorrow. In this workshop, we will write about the complexities of the heart using personal experience as fuel. Using humor or pathos or various combinations of both, the goal is to develop a greater comfort with our emotional-relational lives. This will easily transfer to writing about other aspects of experience because what grips us is…

This workshop will focus on the all-important revision process in screenwriting, with members sharing the successes and difficulties encountered in the scripting process for feature-length, short, or TV scripts. You will have at least three opportunities to turn in pages of a screenplay for group review, workshop, and discussion—all in an atmosphere of mutual exploration and understanding. This class is open to continuing members as well as advanced screenwriting students.  

In this advanced workshop, experienced students working on personal essays and memoir chapters will receive guidance, support and feedback. We'll continue to shape experiences and their meanings on the page; discuss higher level elements of craft and structures; and create strategies for revision. We’ll also use prompts, exercises, and discussions based on readings by notable authors, to generate new scenes and stories. Each member of the group will have at least two opportunities to be critiqued during the session.  

This seminar is designed for writers who want to improve their understanding of mental illnesses and write creatively about them. The class begins with basic facts about different types of mental health issues, then analyzes story lines and characters in popular books and shows such as: anxiety (Vertigo), depression (The Girl on the Train),  addictions (Mom), autism spectrum (Rain Man), and Alzheimer’s (Still Alice). Using a "Character Development Tool" provided in class, students will write a scene which includes a…

In this workshop we will explore the sources of writer’s block, procrastination, and self-sabotage through the practice of deconstructing desires, habits, and deep rooted beliefs. This workshop will include an examination of the power of words. Participants will walk away with unique ways to organize their schedule and tools to remain positive when feeling overwhelmed.

Does your plot provide the structure your work needs & deserves? Will your plot line grab the attention of readers/reviewers/agents? With this seminar, your story becomes more powerful, your characters reach their full potential. Writing the Killer Plot (WKP) works for fiction or non-fiction, and comes with unique perspective and concise diagramming tools. From early concept to your work in progress, WKP is for writers of all levels. Workbook© provided.

Finding it hard to summon the muse lately? Are your characters, stories, songs or poems lacking variety or needing a little shift? Spend an afternoon playing with words, diving into unique writing prompts and finding some fun new ways to approach creative writing. We'll work on engaging our senses, and using a variety of stimuli to spark a variety of writing styles and creative activities. This class is open to literary, visual, and musical artists. Please bring a notebook; all…

In this workshop, you can explore multiple genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, and/or poetry. We’ll get started with creative exercises, prompts, and readings, and have ample time to share and comment on each other’s work. You can learn a new genre or sharpen your skills while working on something you are already writing. Come hone your unique writing voice in a creative and fun atmosphere.