The Poetry Workshop continues with returning members and new members having poetry writing experience. Fresh, intriguing poetry prompts offer group members the opportunity to experiment with various styles, forms, subjects and themes, and in doing so, will clarify their own voices as they actively write and revise original poems. Each workshop will include consideration of an aspect of craft based on assigned readings, as well as close reading of select poems by outstanding poets past and present to open up…

In this workshop, creative nonfiction and memoir writers will explore the genre of flash creative nonfiction (between 500 and 1,000 words). We will discuss and discover the many craft elements that make flash nonfiction an engaging, experimental and exciting genre! Every session we will generate and critique our small memoir and nonfiction stories and essays and focus on the unique opportunities that flash gives every creative nonfiction writer. Working in a shorter form allows you to take a fresh look…

The Fiction Studio continues with returning members and new members with professional fiction workshop experience. We will actively write and revise original short stories and chapters of novels as well as consider various aspects of the creative and professional life of the fiction writer. All members of the group will have the opportunity to submit material for the workshop, with at least two to three opportunities to be critiqued during the session. New members must receive pre-approval to register from…

The fiction writing journey continues where Fiction 1 left off. Returning students and writers new to The Muse (who have fiction writing experience) will be encouraged to produce and submit original work for discussion by the group in the workshop format. In addition, participants will take a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing, with a focus on building rounded, dynamic characters and an engaging narrative with a living world/setting. All genres of fiction are accepted and…

Whether you’re brand new to poetry or just need a refresher on the craft of writing poems, this class will focus on the fundamentals of what makes a great poem. With a strong emphasis on how to read a poem as a writer, this class mixes both traditional and formal poetry with modern contemporary examples and covers the basics of form and language. This class will help you build your toolbox of literary devices to begin crafting poems on your…

Building on the fundamentals from Fiction 1 and Fiction 2, Fiction 3 immerses new writers in the revision process to hone their voices and tell compelling stories. The class will follow a workshop format, with students sharing their work and critiquing other students’ work via written feedback and class discussion. We’ll dig into revision on a micro and macro level, exploring line-level details such as word choice and syntax as well as broader considerations. Alongside developing facility with revision and…

The Fiction Workshop continues with returning members and new members who have fiction writing workshop experience. Members of the group will workshop original work while taking a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing. Topics such as POV, scene writing, dialogue and more may be explored through short lectures or study of published stories. Students will continue to develop critiquing skills and master writing active prose. All members of the group will have the opportunity to submit…

Let’s explore the power of mythology and how subconscious tenets based on ancient myth pepper not only the symbols we use, but our plot points and themes. Most writers know mythology, but having a better understanding of its evolution and its sometimes startling connections to today--as well as how to recognize and utilize inherent mythological elements--will strengthen writing of any genre. We will traverse oral tradition, ancient mythology, and universal archetypes, applying these concepts to our own, contemporary pieces.