FALL
Poetry Workshop: The Truly Shaped Voice of One’s Self
Teacher: Elaine Walters McFerron
James Wright wrote in a letter to Donald Hall dated July 25, 1958 about “the two necessary steps of creation of a great and original poetry: 1. Mastery of formal competence in one’s tradition. 2. Then the breaking through this formal competence, in order to create a poetry which is unique and all one’s own: the truly shaped voice of one’s self.” In this eight week workshop we will read and study great poems with the hope and expectation of breaking through to our own unique voice. This workshop is designed to generate new poems. Revisions, as always, will also be considered. Limited number of participants.
Eight Sessions: $300. Every other Wednesday beginning September 17, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
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Mothers Who Write
Teacher: Leigh Rastivo
This workshop is intended for mothers who want to chronicle their experiences in autobiography, personal essay or storytelling. We’ll use writing exercises, hands-on assignments and texts as springboards for recording life as a mother and understanding “the true nature of creation.” Whether you want to craft a record for your family, a journal for yourself or fiction for the world, this course will provide a path to reconcile your responsibilities as a woman with your artistic vision. Designed to generate new work or aid in the revision of works in progress. Limited number of participants.
Text: The Mother Reader edited by Moyra Davey
Eight Sessions; $300 Every other Monday beginning September 15 6:30pm –8:30 pm
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Creativity in Action
Teacher: Martha Hamilton
What to do when you are stuck? Set yourself in motion. This workshop uses principles and techniques of psychodrama to get the juicy energy flowing. Using exercises focused on claiming the “bright shadow,” anxiety is converted to spontaneity and new possibilities emerge. This class is designed for anyone involved in a creative process or wanting to begin a creative project. Limited to 10 participants.
$40 Saturday, October 4 10am-1pm
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Redemption and Reconciliation in Drama
Teacher: Melanie C. Reuter
Through the reading of scenes from various plays with spiritual themes centering on the idea of redemption and reconciliation, participants will learn about character development and playwriting.
Plays: W;t by Margaret Edson, The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, Racing Demon by David Hare, Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, and Copenhagen by Michael Frayn.
Eight Sessions: $300 Every Monday beginning September 15, 6:30pm-8:30pm
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Letters As Literary Form
Teacher: Elaine Walters McFerron
What happens when artists write letters discussing their creative process? A body of work is produced that is often overlooked as art. We will examine the letters of Virginia Woolf, James Wright and others for inspiration for our own writing. The participants in this workshop will be writing poetry and nonfiction.
Limited number of participants
Eight Sessions: $300. Every other Tuesday Beginning September 9, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
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That Sinister Plot: Fiction Workshop
Teacher: Leigh Rastivo
This course is designed to help writers of all levels answer the question “What happens next?” We’ll look at the stories of a wide variety of authors, and use exercises and assignments to build the narrative arc of our stories. We’ll also consider other craft basics, like voice and character. Designed to generate new work or to aid in the revision of work in progress. Limited number of participants.
Text: Mother Reader, edited by Moyra Davey
Eight Sessions: $300 Tuesdays beginning September 16, 6:30pm-8:30pm
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Themes of Atonement in Fiction
Teacher: Melanie C. Reuter
In one sense, atonement is reparation for an offense or injury. In a greater sense, atonement can refer to the reconciliation of a human being with God. We’ll examine four theories of atonement in Christian theology – Christus Victor View, Penal Substitution View, Healing View, Kaleidoscopic View. We’ll examine how various authors use this theme, then write short stories based on what we learn. Various texts will be used.
Eight Sessions: $300 Every other Thursday beginning September 15, 6:30pm-8:30pm
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On Keeping A Journal
Teacher: Elaine Walters McFerron
At their core, journals are about sharpening consciousness. The deeper benefit of keeping a journal is that it offers a way to be consistently aware or mindful. – Alexander Johnson
This workshop will provide direction and inspiration in beginning and maintaining a journal while exercising our creative capacities. Some time will be spent on journal writing as a stepping stone to recording life stories and possibly developing themes for a memoir. Limited number of participants.
Six Sessions: $240 Every other Tuesday beginning September 16, 6:30pm-8:30pm
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Praying in Color
Teacher: Melanie C. Reuter
Using sketchbooks and colored pencils or Sharpies, participants will engage in new ways of conversing with God.
Text: Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth
One Session: $35 Thursday October 23, 6:30pm-8:30pm
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Private Tutorials
All teachers at THE WRITER’S STUDIO offer private consultations in person or on-line at an hourly rate.
For more information, contact THE WRITERS STUDIO 757.486.6515
FALL INSTRUCTORS
Elaine Walters McFerron is founder of THE WRITER’S STUDIO. She leads workshops in poetry, prose and mixed genre. She holds an MFA in Writing with a concentration in Poetry from The Bennington Writing Seminars of Bennington College, where she is the Alumni Liason and the graduating class facilitator for the academic lectures. She blogs at elainewaltersmcferron.wordpress.com
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Leigh Rastivo holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing with a concentration in Fiction from the Bennington Writing Seminars of Bennington College. She teaches writing at local colleges. and is on staff at PortFolio Weekly, where she writes book reviews, arts articles and “Mother Tongue,” a regular print column on modern motherhood. She has just finished a novel. She blogs at leighrastivo.com.
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Martha Hamilton, R.N., LCSW, is a creative spirit who has been helping professional for over 40 years. She has extensive training and experience in psychodrama, and has used it effectively within diverse communities. Martha finds the process of psychodrama a powerful tool for being fully present in the now. She blogs at spontaneitytheater.wordpress.com
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The Rev. Dr. Melanie C Reuter holds the Doctor of Ministry in Arts & Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Master of Religious Education degree from Duke University. She has over thirty years of experience in ministry and is passionate about creativity and spirituality. She and her husband Mark reside in Virginia Beach. She blogs at handstosoul.wordpress.com
To register for a course, call Elaine Walters McFerron at
THE WRITER’S STUDIO Phone 757.486.6515
613 N. Lynnhaven Road, Suite B
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
http://thewritersstudio.us
