The plot is the most basic element of a novel, and yet learning to plot is often the hardest challenge of the fiction writer. What is a plot? Are there different types? Do I need to outline? How do I learn how to plot? In this seminar, we’ll answer all ...
Setting in a novel isn’t simply the background to your story. It’s another character! Learn why the right setting can make or break your novel, how to choose the best setting for your story, how to research that setting without leaving your house, and how to develop your setting with ...
Join us for a discussion of contemporary and classic novels as well as nonfiction, chosen by the group. This group has been meeting since 1993 and always welcomes new members! No registration is required. For current selections, contact Alan at church11@webtv.net or 859-252-7041. Alan Church, Ph.D. is a retired clinical ...
This once-a-month workshop provides writers options for structuring their novels, developing pivotal plot scenes, writing prompts designed to help writers make forward progress, and group mentoring/brainstorming to help break through obstacles. For intermediate/advanced levels. Led by Marcia Thornton Jones, an award-winning author who has published more than 130 books for children ...
Join Julia Royston from BK Royston Publishing Company as she discusses the essential elements of building your author brand. From author platforms to messaging to social media to ‘turning your words into wealth,’ Julia will give an overview of the planning and preparation you can do to further connect and ...
Can you write 50,000 words toward a novel in one month? Yes you can! This ten-time National Novel Writing Month winner will share with you how it’s done while living a busy life. The seminar includes strategies for meeting your word count, writing a quick first draft, and keeping track ...
Writing a grant (or learning where to find one) can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Learn the basics about grant research, how to write a grant, what to include in your proposal and project budgets, the do’s and don’ts of grant writing, and more! This 90-minute class ...
Learn the process for seeking a literary agent, from beginning to end: where to find agents, the formula for writing a query letter, what may be required in your submission package, how to keep track of query submissions, and the proper etiquette for interacting with agents. Though your novel must ...
In this two-hour webinar, led by USA Today best-selling author Tiffany Reisz, you will learn tips, tools, and techniques for revising and self-editing your fiction in preparation for querying, submission, traditional or self-publication. This class is offered as a pre-recorded webinar. The link to the video and any accompanying materials ...
GRADES K–2: The class is structured to provide your child with strategies, skills, and concepts that are the building blocks for higher-level and more complex math through a hands-on, active, and engaging approach. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has her master’s degree in K–12 special education and has over 25 ...
GRADES K–2: This is a fun, hands-on, and interactive class. Students will play games and learn strategies that will help with their reading skills including vocabulary development, alphabet knowledge, letter-sound correlation, concepts of print, listening comprehension, and comprehension skills that make for good reading. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has ...
GRADES 3–5: Work and play together! This class uses games and cooperative activities to introduce and reinforce math skills such as addition, subtraction, logic, multiplication, division, fractions, and more. Lynsey Crumbie has a BA in Public Health and her Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Promotion ...
GRADES 3-5: In this fun, hands-on class, we’ll work on reading strategies and comprehension techniques. Students will play games that help to boost their reading skills and engage in activities that demonstrate their reading comprehension. Led by Martha Crumbie, who has her master’s degree in K–12 special education and has ...
GRADES 1–5: ¡Hola! Join us for this fun, hands-on workshop for kids. You’ll learn the basics of the Spanish language through fun games, crafts, songs, activities, and more. Te esperamos! Ms. Creel is a language enthusiast, and is passionate about successfully delivering quality Spanish instruction for children. Originally from Honduras, ...
GRADES K–3: This weekly class will help English language learners develop necessary speaking, reading, and writing skills through a variety of hands-on, collaborative activities. Claire Dorbad holds two bachelor’s degrees in English and journalism from the University of Kentucky, is TEFL and TESOL certified, and has taught ESL to children from ...
GRADES 6–8: Come hone your creative writing skills and practice getting the stories in your mind down to the page. We’ll discuss some storytelling basics and spend time writing in each class, trying on different writing styles to find your best fit. Come ready to read, write, and explore! Manya ...
GRADES 4–5: Hone your writing skills in a creative, hands-on environment! Together, we’ll explore how fun writing can be as we play writing games and write stories, poems, and more. Led by poet Carole Johnston, former school library media specialist for grades K–8 and former creative writing instructor for the ...
We will continue to add vocabulary, verbs, and verb tenses. Students will apply skills learned in Spanish Level 1 and will engage in more active conversation, expressions, and general scenarios related to work, travel, business, health, and others. Required text: Spanish Now! Level 1, 8th ed. Please purchase on your own ...
GRADES 6–9: Join us for an adventure in learning! This class uses the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons to show kids how fun critical thinking, teamwork, and math can be. Through cooperative storytelling, kids learn to work together to solve problems with the tools provided. Math topics covered range ...
GRADES 5–7: From Harry Potter to The BFG, from Percy Jackson to The Martian Chronicles, and whatever is your favorite…We will read excerpts from various fantasy and science fiction books and graphic novels to learn how to create amazing worlds and heroic characters. We will discuss how these stories fit ...
GRADES 3-8: Have you ever wondered how video games are made? Want to take your skills to the next level? Go behind the screen with Scratch 3.0. Join us virtually to learn all the basics you need to make your first arcade game or upgrade your coding proficiency. You will ...
If you’ve reached that golden age, join this group, which features cross-genre writing prompts; feedback for family stories, memoirs, poems, and fiction; tips for reading and publishing your work; and lively conversation and fellowship. Sarah Combs is the author of the YA novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, ...
This writing experience offers attendees the opportunity to engage in a creative and communicative loop without judgment. We write from a variety of prompts, designed to release the inner censor and simply get words on a page. After each timed session, writers read aloud their new work to participating attendees ...
GRADES 2-3: Inspire your writing skills in a creative, hands-on environment! Together, we’ll explore how fun writing can be as we play writing games and write stories, poems, and more. Manya Tiwari is a junior at SCAPA Lafayette in the area of Literary Arts – she is also a former ...
Join Tiffany Reisz in an MFA-style fiction workshop. Writers should be published or pursuing publication with a finished novel or short story. Writers must provide 10–20 pages for workshopping. Limit: 8 participants. Tiffany Reisz is a USA Today bestselling and Lambda Award winning author, and lives in Louisville. Her novel ...
Join a lively, diverse group of people exploring nonfiction writing, including personal essays, columns, magazine pieces, and autobiography. This is a chance to share your work in progress, receive and offer feedback, and gain confidence in an affirming atmosphere. Led by Neil Chethik, Carnegie Center Executive Director (2012-2022) and author ...
Find focus, gain confidence, and learn about writing fiction for kids through discussion, peer-sharing, and writing exercises. Come with a work-in-progress–or at least an idea for one. Led by Marcia Thornton Jones, an award-winning author who has published more than 130 books for children with sales totaling more than 43 ...
Have you ever read a piece in a magazine or newspaper that you just can’t put down? How do writers for magazines and newspapers pull readers in? We’ll teach you the secrets of how to craft a piece that really grabs your readers and takes them on a journey. From ...
Students will learn basic Spanish grammar, vocabulary, common expressions, greetings, survival phrases, and some discussion of cultural aspects in Spanish-speaking countries. Open to beginners and students who would like to refresh their knowledge of basic Spanish. The goal is to complete the first 5 units from the textbook during class ...
This is an informal discussion group focusing on literature by and about women. Be prepared to buy or check out from the library the works selected. Contact the Carnegie Center for the updated book list. Jan Isenhour, former Executive Director of the Carnegie Center, has facilitated the Brown Bag group ...
Whether you are a White writer who wants to use diverse characters in your work, or you’re a Black writer who wants to decenter whiteness in your work, this 6 week, half generative, half workshop class will have something for you. Based on Ibram X Kendi’s How to Be an ...
BIRTH TO 3-YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for a story and play time that uses seasonally themed books and activities to promote the development of early language skills. We will also provide strategies and share ideas to enable parents to foster a love of reading, writing, speaking and all ...
Effective communication is crucial in the provision of health. This class is designed to help healthcare workers communicate with Spanish speaking populations. We will learn common phrases in a clinical/medical encounter and patient instructions; common adjectives to describe levels of health issues; common phrases related to health and wellness; and ...
Writing a book is exciting, a chance to put your personal stamp in the canon of human experience. It can also make you pull your hair out with frustration and take up valuable headspace for decades. This deeply personal, peculiar creative journey is something only writers understand. In this class, ...
Writers of personal essay and short memoir pieces often wonder how to organize disparate stories in a collection. In this workshop, participants will learn strategies to identify common themes and styles among their memoirs and personal essays. We’ll discuss and practice ways to enhance connections and transitions between chapters and ...
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck during the revision of a short story—unsure of where to begin, lost in the middle, or still unsatisfied after multiple attempts—then reverse outlining might be useful. This is a simple, customizable technique to help you “re-see” your story from a new perspective so you ...
Publishing your own work has never been easier. Unfortunately, if you’re new to self-publishing, you can end up thousands of dollars in the hole before ever selling a single book. If you know what pitfalls to avoid, however, you can professionally publish your own books without breaking the bank. Learn ...
In this class we will happily get lost in the details of poetry. We will revel in the sounds, zigzag through the commas, tap to the rhythms of the lines, vibrate with the verbs. We will submit poems and workshop them, will study books, dissect examples. As time allows, each ...
Looking to freshen up your memoir? Trying to make your narrative voice come alive in your short stories or novels? This session will offer you the chance to explore the various poetic skills utilized by renowned prose writers to develop their own distinct, unique writing styles. Description, dialogue, exposition— every ...
This class will cover trauma and how as writers we transpose our experiences onto paper. The vulnerability we face in doing so may hinder our writing process and emotional wellbeing. We will dive into the trauma writing process, post trauma processing, apprehensions with publishing lived personal trauma, and suggestions on ...
3–5 YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for story time, parent-assisted activities, and free books designed to encourage early excitement for reading through hands-on activities for parent and child. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to busy toddlers and preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time setting ...
2 YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: ONLINE Join us for story time, parent-assisted activities, and free books designed to encourage early excitement for reading through hands-on activities for parent and child. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to busy toddlers and preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time ...
GRADES 9–12: Attention teen writers! Join us for this one-of-a-kind retreat for the next great generation of writers! You’ll work with talented writers, spend free time putting words on the page in an inspiring environment, and get to know peers who share similar passions! Instructors include Elizabeth Beck (author of ...
As writers of historical fiction, we need to listen to the past and reinterpret it so that modern audiences can understand and relate to it. This workshop will focus on strategies for researching the past and effectively incorporating it into your stories. Angela Jackson-Brown is an award-winning writer, poet and ...
An adequate understanding of the written and spoken French word is required. This course is challenging and accessible. Required texts: Grammaire Progressive du Français (Perfectionnement), 4th ed. by Maïa Grégoire and Alina Kostucki. Optional text: Grammaire Progressive du Français-Perfectionnement-Corrigés by Maïa Grégoire. Please purchase texts on your own. Erica House ...
We will review and build from previous levels and apply through creative mediums. We will gain more access to vocabulary, verbs, and grammar. A basic knowledge of the passé composé and imparfait is required. Required text: Grammaire Progressive du Français (Intermédiare), 4th ed. by Maïa Grégoire and Odile Thievenaz. Optional ...
We will continue to add verbs, vocabulary, and expressions to our repertoire. We will practice pronunciation and reading comprehension by reading aloud. Required text: Easy French Step-by-Step by Myrna Bell Rochester, Ph.D. Please purchase on your own. Erica House has been teaching French to children and adults for more than ...
Newsletters are the new blogs. They can be about anything you want, no matter how specific (over the last year, writers have started newsletters about topics ranging from tinned fish to life in Appalachia). But how do you transition your newsletter from passion project to profit? Instructor Ashlie Stevens will ...
We have now gained enough tools from the previous levels to delve more easily into reading texts and discussing through conversation. In every season we will plunge a little deeper into grammar nuances. Required text: Grammaire Progressive du Français (Intermédiare), 4th ed. by Maïa Grégoire and Odile Thiévenaz. Optional text: ...
When “the world is too much with us” (William Wordsworth), let’s offer hope, encouragement and inspiration with our writing. We’ll explore varied forms of spiritual/ inspirational writing, such as devotions, self-help, personal experience and more. Let’s make the world a kinder place through our words. Karen Leet has sold more ...
Join Sylvia Lovely for a three-part seminar series on how to write the stories of your life. From cave wall hieroglyphics to the great literary works, we are hard-wired to describe and understand our lives and the times in which we live through stories. Some say, “I do not have ...
This very introductory-level class is designed for the ultra beginner. We will introduce salutations, pronouns, vocabulary, some prepositions, and some verb conjugations. We will work on pronunciation, personal interests, and question-asking. Expect role-playing and repetition. By the end of the season, you will be able to present yourself to the ...
When you think about it, any form of art is built on thievery--stealing ideas, images, colors, turns of phrase, etc. and making them something new. Every art is a “found” art. How do you acknowledge this as an artist? How can you use the ideas of borrowing, thievery, homage, allusion, ...
GRADES 2–5: Keep your brain sharp! In this fun class, we will do word games, number games, logic puzzles, and all kinds of challenges to keep your brain moving! Elise Mandel holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and she teaches classes and works with ...
3–5 YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: Join us for story time, parent-assisted activities, and free books designed to encourage early excitement for reading through hands-on activities for parent and child. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to busy toddlers and preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time setting ...
2 YEAR-OLDS & THEIR GROWN-UPS: ONLINE Join us for story time, parent-assisted activities, and free books designed to encourage early excitement for reading through hands-on activities for parent and child. This laid-back atmosphere is friendly to busy toddlers and preschoolers and is a great first introduction to a story time ...
