Seattle Writes: Writing Workshops at The Seattle Public Library Begin Sept. 20
release date: September 14, 2020
Write with us this fall! Seasoned writers are sharing their knowledge and skill through our online classes. Write a poem, begin your novel, investigate prose and discover new ways to deepen and develop your writing through Seattle Writes online workshops.
The workshops are free and open to the public. Registration is required, visit the Library's calendar to sign up.
WRITING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Virtual Creative Writing Workshops in Spanish
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 - Cuentos y relatos: Similitudes y diferencias (Short Story and Narration: Identifying Similarities and Differences). En este taller expondremos en primer lugar las características de ambos géneros literarios, valiéndonos de ejemplos extraídos de la literatura. Asimismo, invitamos a los participantes a leer sus propios escritos para su análisis en grupo. Y en un paso posterior, veremos cómo se puede elaborar y transformar una reflexión, anécdota, memoria o descripción en un cuento.
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 - Escribiendo Memorias (Writing Memories). Las narrativas personales comienzan como secretos cuya complejidad se desarrolla durante el largo arco de una vida. En esta clase, aprenda a dar forma artística a una historia personal. A partir de lo imaginado y sentido, creamos escritura que refleja nuestras verdades y contribuye a un entendimiento compartido. Nuestra clase terminará con una actuación de tres minutos de cada alumno que elija traer algo para compartir.
Virtual Creative Writing Workshops in English
10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19 - An Ancient Music: Writing with South Asian Ghazals. Ghazals in South Asia are one of the most popular forms of poetry anywhere. In this multi-genre, part-generative, part-analytical class taught by Shankar Narayan, listen to versions of ghazals in Urdu, read translations, consider what makes a good ghazal work, and create our own burning, yearning works.
Elements of the Novel. A four-part series taught by Karen Finneyfrock. Registration is required for each workshop.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 - Elements of the Novel: Character. Practice techniques to make your characters feel like complex beings with desires and personalities. Be prepared to write.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 - Elements of the Novel: Conflict. Explore the central conflict between protagonist and antagonist as well as the broader conflicts that make up the world of our stories. Be prepared to write.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 - Elements of the Novel: Protagonist. Without the right protagonist, you can't tell the right story. In this workshop, we will dig into our most important character: her desires, fears, incorrect concepts, and her space to grow. Most importantly, we will figure out why. Be prepared to write.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 - Elements of the Novel: Language. Dive into the language of the novel, from the sentence level, to dialog, to the work of the paragraph. Be prepared to write. Come prepared to write.
10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 17 - What Are You Here to Say: Finding Voice and Purpose in Personal Essay. You have a powerful, unique, compelling voice. You may already have discovered it. If you have, this class taught by Sonora Jha will give you the tools to cultivate your voice, hone it, develop it, sharpen it, and try it out over and over again. This class is for those who want answer to the question, "What am I here to say?"
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 - Words and Images to Remember: Using Poetry to Create a Document of Time and Place. Open to writers of all ages and levels of experience this class taught by Laura Da’ focuses on using poetry to consider personal legacy through community, memory and place.
WRITING CIRCLES
Check out our free online writing circles facilitated by established writers from Hugo House. Registration is required through Hugo House.
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 12, Nov. 9, Dec. 14. Join author Brett Hamil for writing prompts, free writing time, and sharing in a welcoming environment.
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 15. Carve out time for dedicated writing with fiction, poetry and nonfiction writing prompts led by Alma Garcia.
- 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 14, Nov. 12, Dec. 9. Jeanine Walker leads writers in generative writing through poetry prompts with which to develop skills and ideas useful for all types of writing.
MORE INFORMATION
The Library brings people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. We support universal access to information and ideas, and form strong partnerships with community organizations to offer classes and workshops that are accessible to all.
All physical locations of The Seattle Public Library are currently closed in accordance with public health guidelines. Find out more at spl.org/ChiefLibrarian. Visit the Library’s Road to Reopening page for more information on book returns, Curbside Service and other Library services being offered while Library buildings are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can now place new holds on physical Library materials.