WRITING
Mothers Who Write
5:30-7:30PM THURSDAYS
10 SESSIONS: SEPTEMBER 14 THROUGH NOVEMBER 16
Amy Silverman and Deborah Sussman
Amy Silverman (My Heart Can't Even Believe It) and Deborah Sussman (ASU's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts) present an in-person edition of their long-running workshop. Motherhood is the only experience necessary in this workshop for writers of all ages and levels of experience. From published authors to secret journal-keepers, "Mothers Who Write" offers prompts and advice to get you started, as well as a constructive, supportive setting in which to workshop your writing.
Location: Phoenix
WRITING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
"Nobody Talks Like That"
6PM MONDAY
1 SESSION: SEPTEMBER 25
Ashley Naftule
From the instructor: "Writing dialogue that doesn't sound like you using your characters as sock puppets can be a challenge. Writing dialogue that is funny, compelling, and/or memorable is already tricky enough; writing dialogue that actually sounds like somebody else is even harder. Drawing from examples in prose, poetry, theater, radio, and cinema, this workshop will examine what makes for compelling dialogue and how you can apply certain principles in your writing to give your characters distinct voices. Using a mix of craft talk and hands-on exercises, participants (be they first-time writers or seasoned scribes) will walk away from this workshop with new pages of work and new techniques to add to their writing toolkit."
Interested in teaching a Writing Under the Influence workshop? Please fill out our proposal form here »
Location: Phoenix
"Discover the Power of Words"
6-8PM FRIDAY
1 SESSION: SEPTEMBER 29
Christina Vo
Embark on an inspiring workshop led by memoirist Christina Vo, as she shares the invaluable tools she discovered during the pandemic to nurture her writing process and helped her finish her manuscript.
Based on her experience writing and publishing her first memoir (The Veil Between Two Worlds), she will share the connective power of writing—and innumerable benefits—beyond publication that Christina discovered through her journey. Engage in a writing exercise that will help explore the deeper blocks that are holding you back from committing to your writing, followed by an introspective discussion.
Location: Phoenix
"You Ought to Write a Book!"
6-7:30PM TUESDAYS
8 SESSIONS: OCTOBER 17 THROUGH DECEMBER 12
Robrt Pela
Journalist and book editor Robrt Pela leads an eight-week writing workshop for first-time authors.
So You Want to Write a Book is aimed at the first-time author who has a story to tell but doesn’t know where to begin. Workshop participants will learn the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing and the advantages of each. They’ll explore what’s behind their desire to write, refine their story idea, and learn about the importance of a story arc. They’ll become conversant in the basics of outlining their story and the importance of keeping a writing deadline. They’ll also learn writing tricks, like how to bust through “writer’s block,” as well as the importance of writers’ groups and early readers. Participants will also learn how to sell their book once it’s done: How to write a book proposal; how to shop for a literary agent or a traditional publisher, or whether to self-publish their book instead.