Fall 2009 Writing Courses

Eight-Week Writing Courses
Fees: Members $120 Non-Members: $150

1.01 Introductory Creative Writing
Instructor: Elaine Morin
Day/Time: Thursdays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 24, 2009
In the introductory courses, the basics of character, plot, dialogue and setting are introduced through discussion, practical exercises and mutual feedback.

1.02 Introductory Creative Writing
Instructor: Vicki Chatham
Day/Time: Fridays, 1:30-3:30pm
Date: Begins September 25, 2009
In the introductory courses, the basics of character, plot, dialogue and setting are introduced through discussion, practical exercises and mutual feedback.

2.00 Short Story
Instructor: Susan Calder-Arnold
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 22, 2009
The short story from beginning to end: how to hook your reader, sustain interest and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Through written assignments and the study of published short stories we will examine techniques for portraying character, plot, scene, setting, dialogue and more. Students will share their work with the class and participate in group critiques. We'll wrap up with tips for marketing your short stories. Prerequisite: Introductory Creative Writing

3.10 Introductory Poetry
Instructor: Susan Plett
Day/Time: Thursdays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 24, 2009
Want to give poetry a try but don't know where to start? Join Calgary poet Susan Plett for a truly painless introduction to the art of poem making.

3.20 Form Poetry
Instructor: Micheline Maylor
Day/Time: Mondays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 21, 2009
A "fright free" way to try and learn about Sonnets, Villanelles, Terza Rima, Rhymed Couplets and others. Each week a new form will be briefly introduced, historically and structurally, and then you are free to try it. Each week will also include a critique of the past assignment. This is an advanced level course.

4.00 Personal Essay
Instructor: Ellen Kelly
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 23, 2009
Does your writing say what you want it to say? Is there deeper significance to your personal writing? Learn how to expand your written work into a clear and concise essay by examining style, focus, audience and purpose. Applicable techniques used in fiction will be discussed and some published essays will be studied. There will be a workshopping component to this course.

5.00 World Builders: Crafting Quality Fantasy and Science Fiction
Instructor: Brad Carr
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 7-9pm
Date: Begins September 23, 2009
About what does an elf sing? What colour is an alien sky? A World Builder accepts the imaginative burden of examining his or her alternate reality in detail, considering not only characters, but those characters' social, political and ecologic surroundings. Sign up for World Builders and experience some of the greats at work, all while you build and populate your own world.

Saturday Seminars/Workshops

Special Fee, except as noted: Members: $60 Non-Members: $70

September 26 Life Into Story
Instructor: Lori Hahnel http://www.lorihahnel.ca/
In this workshop we will learn how to transform real life experiences into the stuff of fiction, with an emphasis on the importance of character as the primary driving force of story. Through discussion we will explore the relationship between fictional characters and real people and will use exercises to begin developing memorable characters.

October 3 Songwriting
Instructor: Phyllis Wheaton http://www.phylliswheaton.com/
Enjoy writing and wonder how you can turn a story or poem into a song from scratch? You will enjoy this one day songwriting class with facilitator Phyllis Wheaton. She has recorded and published poetry and music and will lead this class in discovering their own songs.

October 17 Screenwriting
Instructor: Phyllis Heltay
Have you ever watched a movie and thought, "I could write that!"? This workshop will cover the essentials of screenplay writing: format, dialogue, action, character development and the story arc. Get the inside scoop on how material is developed for the big screen and find out if YOUR idea would sell.

October 24, 31 & November 7 (Three Saturdays)
Raising The Dead
Instructor: Carolyn Pogue http://www.carolynpogue.ca/

Fee: Members $120 Non Members $150

Write historical fiction by harvesting your family history for intriguing characters and amazing plots. Participants will imaginatively connect with one of their ancestors, as if one were a character in a story. Writers will work through a series of free fall and other exercises to create historical fiction with a personal touch. Please bring to the first session a family tale, artifact or photograph of the ancestor you intend to write about.

October 24 Submissions and Markets
Instructor: Lorna Schultz-Nicholson http://www.lornaschultznicholson.com/
If your goal is to see your words in print, discover what to expect, what works and what doesn't work. Whether you want to publish articles, poetry, fiction or books, learn tips on possible markets, effective queries, formats for submissions, useful websites and helpful groups so you can achieve your dream.