Writing Classes and Writers You Should Know

If you have never spent a week or even a weekend at the John C. Campbell Folk School, then you want to take a look at the writing classes planned for the coming months.

My students in a Folk School class I taught a few years ago.

Here are some of the instructors that I know. Wish I could go and take classes with each of them myself.

If you write novels or fiction of any kind, check out Vicki Lane. Such a nice lady and a writer with so many followers and fans she has to keep them entertained with her blog and her photographs between books in the series she writes. June 7 – June 13, A Practical Guide to Writing Popular Fiction.

Carol Crawford, my dear friend, will teach again at JCCFS. Besides being the kindest and nicest person I know, she always teaches me something that helps me to write a little better. She is a poet, a wonderful essayist and an editor. If you haven’t had a class with Carol, register now for her Creative Writing class January 12 – 28. 

Some of you might not know, but Carol was our facilitator for the Netwest Poetry group when I first moved here to the mountains years ago. When I was too scared to read a poem out loud, she helped me find my courage.

Valerie Nieman is teaching again at JCCFS. Her books are filled with interesting characters and you will find her interesting and so knowledgeable about everything regarding writing and publishing. How fortunate we are in our area to have Valerie teach here each year. The Breath of Life: Discovering and Depicting Characters

Karen Paul Holmes, a poet whose work I know so well and enjoy so much will teach a weekend class, Love Songs and Poetry. I think I’ll sign up now to be sure I get in.

Darnell Arnoult, who taught classes for NCWN-West many times over the years, will teach at JCCFS in March. Mining the Mother Lode, Making the Most of Your Material. Sounds like a class I would like to take.

View from behind the Orchard House, the writing studio

Remember: If you are a local resident, you can often take classes for half the fee. Call and sign up for the waiting list or go online to www.folkschool.org

Table Rock Writers Workshop at Wildacres

Children’s Writing Added to Table Rock Workshop: Piedmont Laureate John Claude Bemis Will Teach

Johnclaudebemis.com

For more information on the Table Rock Writers Workshop, held September 9-13, 2013 at Wildacres Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, please visit http://tablerockwriters.com.  Classes are small, register early.  All meals and accommodations are included.

Former student Bradley Scheel says, “John is the rare artist who is so passionate about the craft that he is willing to share everything he has on the subject freely and without reserve. Every moment was fun, every class inspirational. No time will be more wisely spent.”

I had the good fortune to attend the Table Rock Writers Workshop last year. My teacher was Darnell Arnault, a wonderful writer. Other excellent instructors are Abigail DeWitt, fiction writer, Joseph Bathanti, poetry, Judy Goldman, memoir and personal essays. The classes are filled with writers who give good feedback. I thoroughly enjoyed my week there.

It is held at Wildacres Retreat, one of my very favorite places. Check it out here.

Writers' Workshop at Wildacres Retreat

Some of the best instructors will be on faculty for this workshop. Google Darnell Arnoult and Abigal DeWitt and Georgann Eubanks. You will see why I am delighted to be going to this weeklong workshop at my favorite place in the mountains, Wildacres Retreat. 

POPULAR FALL WRITERS’ RETREATS NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 

Writers of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and music can now register for an annual workshop known for helping seasoned and beginning writers in one of North Carolina’s most glorious mountain settings.

Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for this year’s Table Rock Writers Workshop, to be held Sept. 17 -21 at Wildacres Retreat, near Little Switzerland on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

From the large patio between lodges, looking at the ever-changing scenery. Cool and quiet here at Wildacres

SOLATIDO, a southern singer/songwriters’ workshop that runs concurrently is also open for registration.

Table Rock, originally known as the Duke University Writers’ Workshop, was reorganized in 2010 and continues with the same leadership and philosophy of support for writers of all genres and levels of experience.

Georgann Eubanks, who has directed the popular literary workshops for more than 20 years, also developed Solatido for songwriters. She is the author of the guidebook series, Literary Trails of North Carolina, a project of the NC Arts Council. The third volume, Literary Trails of Eastern North Carolina, comes out next spring from UNC Press. The books are all about the state’s many accomplished writers.

“Writing is a solitary occupation,” says Eubanks. “It helps once in a while to gather in the company of other writers and receive feedback and encouragement. The Table Rock and Solatido workshops avoid competition and focus on creativity and craft.” 

Eubanks says some registrants are returnees, but newcomers always infuse the weeklong sessions with fresh energy and ideas.

The instructors at Table Rock this year are North Carolina writers Abigail DeWitt, Darnell Arnoult, Anna Jean Mayhew and Scott Huler.  Participants can also choose to take advantage of a first-time Reader-in Residence, Dawn Shamp. Writers can submit parts of a manuscript in progress and Shamp will provide a detailed critique including structural and technical advice. 

Music producer and composer Richard Putnam leads this year’s Solatido workshop. The keyboardist and arranger is comfortable with all musical styles and has been a session player in the Southeast for 30 years.

For more information: http://tablerockwriters.com 

 http://solatido-workshop.net

Contact Cindy Campbell, 919.923.8857, cincam02@gmail.com

Saturday, May 3, Hayesville, NC All Genre Workshop with Darnell Arnoult

This lady, Darnell Arnoult, is fun and smart. Her workshop in Hayesville, NC on Saturday, May 3, will be great. Register now and be sure you get in.
Contact writerlady21@yahoo.com for registration information.


One of the 4 A's to avoid, according to Darnell:


1) Authorial Intrusion – When you write a piece of fiction, you create the voice of a narrator. It may be a first person point of view narrator, or it may be a more omniscient voice of the story itself. But it is not the author talking, and the author’s opinion or explanation should not come creeping into the lines of your narrative. Present you story and let your reader be the judge. If you want to write fiction, your job is to part a curtain on your characters and expose them at a moment when they reveal themselves for good or bad. Then the reader makes the ultimate judgment of them. If you want to write so you may convey a social, political, or religious opinion, among others, write nonfiction. If you are true to your characters, and they are true to you, then most likely, by the choice of story you wish to tell, a certain world view may show through. But be wary of this. Do not manipulate your story to express your theme. Write your story and see what themes show themselves. (from Darnell's website: darnellarnoult.com

Darnell Arnoult Workshop in Hayesville, NC

Author of Sufficient Grace, Darnell Arnoult, is making a stop on her way to the Duke Writers Workshop in Hendersonville to offer Netwest members and others a workshop at the Clay County Senior Center in Hayesville, NC on Saturday, May 3, 2008,9:30-4:30. Having enjoyed one of Darnell's classes at John Campbell Folk School, I know this will be a class filled with fun and crammed full of good advice and information for all writers.
Writers may join Darnell for dinner in Murphy NC on Friday night, May 2 at 6:00 at the Downtown Pizza where she will read for us.
If you have studied writing with Darnell, I'd like to hear your thoughts. writerlady21@yahoo.com or comment on this blog.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 3, 2008. This is the date for the Darnell Arnoult Workshop to be held for the benefit of Netwest writers and other writers within driving distance of Clay or Cherokee Counties in NC. Any writer or poet can benefit from this successful writer and teacher from Tennessee. Go to her website darnellarnoult.com to learn more about her.

Time and place will be announced later.