Instructor: Cassandra Gearhart
Enter the world of creative writing, fictional short stories through this introductory class. We will cover basics of short story writing including Characterization, Setting, Plot, What to Leave Out, Showing vs. Telling, Scenes vs. Transitions and more. We will explore these topics through reading fiction, writing exercises, peer review, and group discussion. No previous creative writing experience required. Work started in this class may lead to a full writers' workshop at a later date.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Your favorite writing utensil (pen, pencil, marker, quill, etc.)
- A notebook or a laptop
- Your story ideas
A NOTE ON PARTICIPATION ETIQUETTE:
Please be TACTFUL and RESPECTFUL with your responses to group discussion and work!!! This course is intended to create a safe, collaborative environment in which people feel comfortable to learn about writing and share what they have written aloud with a group. Extremely harsh or negative attitudes expressed while GIVING or RECEIVING feedback make it difficult for us as writers to share and improve upon what we have written. As one of my favorite creative writing professors, Christiana Langenberg, put it, "we will criticize the text, NOT the person who wrote it."
ABOUT THE CLASS LEADER:
I graduated with a degree in English and Technical Communication from Iowa State University with a heavy emphasis on writing and communications courses. I have studied multiple creative genres---including short stories, novels, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, and creative nonfiction---and pursued many of them into my free time. If there are further topics you would like me to cover in this course, or a future course, please contact me ahead of time at casgearhart@gmail.com.
Ages: 16 and up
Cancellation and refund policy