While that’s not true anymore for “regular” school, now is a great time for writers — from just beginning to seasoned — to start making plans for post-Labor Day creative writing education opportunities outside of “regular” classrooms. All are either free or offered at a modest cost. Check out the opportunities below and save the dates.
Dayton Metro Library, Fall Programs for Writers:
• September 11, 6:30-8:20 p.m., Main Library (215 E. Third St., Dayton): “Poet’s Night” led by Ed Davis. Ed has published five books of poetry, as well as poetry in many journals, and taught poetry at Sinclair Community College and Antioch Writers’ Workshop. He’ll share ideas for attendees to make their own work special.
• October 2, 6:30-8 p.m., Miamisburg Branch (35 S. Fifth St., Miamisburg): “Writing Historical Fiction: Pinnacles & Pitfalls,” led by author John Kachuba. How can writers balance historical truth with imagination and more?
• October 4, 2-3:30 p.m., Main Library: “Writing the Short Play,” led by Michael London, director of the Ohio Playwrights Circle. Hear three short plays and learn from the playwrights about writing for the theatre.
• October 9, 6:30-8:20 p.m., Main Library: “Second Poet’s Night” with Ed Davis.
• October 18, 1-2:30 p.m., Kettering-Moraine Branch (3496 Far Hills Ave., Kettering): “Hook ‘Em” with Kristina McBride—How can writers hook a reader and not let go until the final page? Kristina, multi-published Young Adult author, shares tips and techniques.
• October 25, 2-5 p.m., Main Library—“Where Do You Get Those Wonderful Ideas?” with publisher and author Steven Saus—learn how to generate ideas, plots and characters.
There is no fee for these classes.
OnLiten
This online creative writing training program, founded and managed by local resident Mindy Hoffbauer, will offer several series of classes this fall.
Fiction craft classes will be led by local author Katrina Kittle:
• Inspiration & Motivation (Wednesday, September 3-October 1, from 7-8 p.m.)
• Fiction Writer’s Too Box Series (Tuesday, September 23-October 28, from 7-8 p.m.)
• Make It Exist! Laying Down a First Draft in One Month (Sunday October 12, 5-6 p.m. or Thursday October 23, 8-9 p.m.)
Additionally, OnLiten will present a Humor-Writing series, featuring author of 21 books (and 2003 winner of the Erma Bombeck Humor Writing competition) Leigh Anne Jasheway, Thursdays September 11-25, 8-9 p.m.
There is a fee for these classes. To find out more and to schedule, visit onliten.com.
Sinclair Community College
Sinclair will hold its 41st Annual Writers’ Workshop on Monday, November 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Building 7 Library. Keynoter will be Maaza Mengiste, whose book “Beneath the Lion’s Gaze” was runner-up for the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and was selected by The Guardian as one of the 10 best contemporary African books. Additional presenters include Cincinnati publisher Eric Beebe (founder of Post Mortem Press), and area authors Joyce Barnes, Rebecca Morean, Martha Moody, Lincoln Schreiber and Andrew Walsh.
The keynote address (10 a.m.) is free and open to the public. Workshop sessions are free for seniors and for Sinclair students, faculty and staff; there’s a $25 fee for the general public on the day of the event.
Learn more and/or register online at www.sinclair.edu/academics/lcs/departments/eng/ws/
Antioch Writers’ Workshop
This Yellow Springs based nonprofit offers free mini workshops fall through spring.
This season’s schedule will kick off with these events held at Books & Co. at The Greene:
October 12, 2-3:30 p.m.—NaNoWriMo Primer, led by local author Katrina Kittle. Gear up to succeed with the challenge of National Novel Writing Month (November) and learn tips and techniques to prepare to write your own 50,000 word first draft in just one month!
November 9, 2-3:30 p.m.—Getting Past the “No.” How to deal with rejections slips and other demotivating aspects of publishing in order to find new energy and inspiration! Instructor to be determined.
These events are free. Learn more at www.antiochwritersworkshop.com
Ohio Playwrights Circle
This organization, founded and led by playwright Michael London, has set its fall schedule for playwrighting classes.
The fall session will be “Playwrighting Level I,” and will be for writers who wish to learn the basic tools of playwrighting. Attendees will, over the session’s classes, create their own ten-minute play.
The classes will be held for eight Saturdays, September 6-October 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Metropolitan Arts Center, Burnell Roberts Room, 126 N. Main St., Dayton.
There is course fee.
Visit http://ohioplaywrightscircle.wordpress.com/ for more details and to register.
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