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Writing Your Letters Workshop—Starts Monday!

By T.S. Poetry 17 Comments

flower memories

A special creative writing workshop series with teacher, author and editor Laura Lynn Brown.

Part III begins Oct 28. Limit 10 participants. Sign up by Oct 21 to avoid a late registration fee.

Take one or take all three, in this “writing from life” fall workshop series. [“all three” option no longer available] Registration currently open for Part 3.

Part I • Writing Our Objects

—$179 à la carte (or choose the whole series for $429) [SOLD OUT]

4 weeks. Sept. 2-27

Objects are full of stories. “In a narrative, any object is always magic,” according to Italo Calvino. From souvenirs and family heirlooms to a favorite pencil or wooden spoon, we all have cherished objects. In this workshop, we’ll look at some of the ways to write about objects: to describe them, explore their associations, tell their stories, research their histories and use them as entry keys into less tangible subjects.

“Writing Our Objects” Basic Outline

Week 1: At hand: objects within reach, or often touched or held
Week 2: Backstory: objects with histories (whether known fully, in fragments, or requiring research)
Week 3: Given and received: gifts, inheritances, curious acquisitions
Week 4: Letting go: writing towards release (of an object it’s time to part with, or its attachments), writing about lost or mislaid things

Part 2 • Writing Our Rooms

—$179 à la carte signup [SOLD OUT]

4 weeks. Sept. 30-Oct. 25

We love to look at photos of writers’ offices and desks, to study the arrangement, the tchotchkes, the relative order or clutter. We read magazines, save pages and curate Pinterest boards dedicated to creating perfect spaces. Meanwhile, in life and memory, we move through rooms where our work gets done and our lives get lived, rooms that might not be photogenic but are overstocked with story.

In this part of the series, we’ll play with “writing rooms” — both the rooms we write in (office, dining room, studio, coffee shop, closet) and the work of writing about memorable rooms (kitchen, childhood bedroom, summer cabin, classroom), not merely to describe them but to explore their memories and the ways we are shaped by their microgeography.

Week 1: From where I sit: places we write in (office, library, coffee shop, laundry room)
Week 2: It’s smaller (or larger) than I remember: rooms of childhood (bedroom, playroom, nursery, Grandma’s house)
Week 3: Come to the table: rooms and food (kitchen, dining room, pantry, restaurant, industrial kitchen)
Week 4: Before and after: rooms cultivated, renovated, altered, added on or altered (living room, sunroom, game room, screen porch turned into living room)

Part 3 • Writing Our Letters

—$179 à la carte signup

4 weeks. Oct. 28-Nov. 22

A letter is often the first written form we learn. It seems so simple — heading, greeting, body, closing, signature, and sometimes postscript. Yet this familiar form has rich possibilities for creative writing, because of the limitations and possibilities of intent: a letter is usually written to a known audience of one.

We read books of personal letters by artists (Vincent Van Gogh’s to his brother Theo, the documented friendship between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell, Flannery O’Connor’s letters to many) to glimpse an interior life, a relationship, maybe some insights into productivity and art-making.

Some writers use the form to structure an entire book — Joe Wenderoth’s novel Letters to Wendy’s, written in the form of restaurant comment cards; Amy Newman’s prose poem series Dear Editor; Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed’s collection from her “Dear Sugar” advice column; actress Mary-Louise Parker’s epistolary memoir, Dear Mr. You.

In this four-week segment, we will take inspiration from these and other sources as we use the constraints of the letter form and awareness of audience to create work that expresses a range of desires for communication, while paying attention to voice, tone, formality, persuasion and humor. While each week will have a focus, writers may choose to work on a series or use prompts from any week.

Week 1: Like-minded: letters to a fellow writer or artist, love letters, friendship correspondence
Week 2: Small desires: letters of inquiry, suggestion, advice or complaint
Week 3: Audience personified: letters to place, object, animal, corporation or other nonhuman addressee
Week 4: Oh, dear me: letters to a past or future self

Each Part in the Series Includes

• Weekly readings of exemplary writing in the subject area, both nonfiction and poems, and occasional extras — music, visual art, podcasts

• Writing prompts and activities to guide you in exploring the possibilities of each subject

• Attention to aspects of craft

• Feedback on your writing

• Three asynchronous written discussions you can participate in at your convenience, and one live Zoom video chat (recorded, in case you need to miss)

• Weekly pairing with a peer to discuss readings and offer feedback on writing

Part 3: Writing Our Letters • BUY NOW $179 + $10 late registration fee = $189





Full 12-week Series Also Includes

• Professional critique of two pieces or poems you hope to get published

• Continued access to all private classroom sections after the series is completed

For You

Private online group “classroom” where you can be assured of a setting that’s been set aside just for you. No distracting social media setup to contend with.

Note to Teachers

You may be able to get professional development units for our courses. We recommend this service offered by Courses4Teachers (and that you check with your district beforehand).

You Will Need

A computer or mobile device with an Internet connection capable of accessing our interactive online space, clicking on documents, and participating in Zoom chats. And you’ll need your favorite writing devices: computer, tablet, pencil, pen, notebook paper, Moleskine, spiral, or other creative tool.

Your Workshop Leader

Laura Lynn Brown, a writing instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, is also an author, editor and writing coach who honed her writing and editing talents at The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Her work was named as a Notable Essay in the 2013 Best American Essays. Laura has an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh and is the author of Everything That Makes You Mom. One of her loves is writing about her home city, Pittsburgh.

From Past Tweetspeak Workshop Participants

Sharon Gibbs: Thank you for making Tweetspeak Poetry such a rich area of living and learning. The workshops are not only life-changing, but they have blessed me with friendships and community outside the classroom(s).

Laura Lapins Willis: The writing workshop I’m taking with Tweetspeak Poetry has been transformational. I’ve had a great teacher/mentor who has encouraged our group with interesting readings and assignments. My classmates have broadened my perspective and challenged me to be a better reader and writer.

Brad Grout: I am personally getting so much out of this memoir workshop…you people are AMAZING!

Lane Arnold: I struck gold. An afternoon session of writing poetry is good for the soul. The poetry workshop is a catalyst for creativity.

Lexanne Leonard: The most important step I’ve taken is to join Tweetspeak’s Poetry Workshop with Anne Doe Overstreet. I cannot begin to thank Tweetspeak, Anne, and my fellow students for this journey.

Darlene S.: I don’t think I can put into words both the overall value of the lessons learned and the encouragement I got.

Debra Hale-Shelton: My writing had become formulaic after so many years having to write the facts and just the facts. For the first time in years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my craft, again dreamed of becoming what I dreamed of at age 18—a writer, not a reporter.

Rhonda Owen: Both of the Tweetspeak workshops I’ve taken this year have nourished me on so many levels. I also feel energized and revitalized through the relationships I’ve formed with the lovely, talented, kind people I’ve met in the workshops. Transformative is the best word to describe it…

Sandra Heska King: This was absolutely the single best whim I’ve followed.



Part 3: Writing Our Letters • BUY NOW $179

Photo by Hiroyuki Takeda, Creative Commons, via Flickr.

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T.S. Poetry
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Comments

  1. Rhonda says

    August 14, 2019 at 1:46 pm

    If I sign up for only the first part, then decide I want to take the rest, can I do that?

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 15, 2019 at 7:35 am

      Yes. In that case, you’d pay the à la carte price for each section. 🙂 (In other words, $179 for the first section. $179 for the second, if you take that one. And $179 for the third, if you take that one.)

      Reply
  2. Katie says

    August 23, 2019 at 8:27 am

    Is it possible to register for Part II – Writing Our Rooms – now?
    I just see options for Part I and the whole workshop above.

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 23, 2019 at 6:20 pm

      We’ll open registration for that part later, Katie. 🙂 thanks for asking!

      Reply
  3. Sandra Heska King says

    August 24, 2019 at 9:08 am

    This looks so, so good. And, of course. Look who’s teaching it.

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 24, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Agreed. 🙂 I loved Laura’s workshop at the recent Tweetspeak retreat!

      Reply
      • Sandra Heska King says

        August 26, 2019 at 9:01 am

        Me too! I learn so much from her.

        Reply
      • Laura Lynn Brown says

        August 26, 2019 at 12:10 pm

        Thank you! I think I’m just getting started mining that rich vein, both as a writer and as a teacher.

        Reply
    • Laura Lynn Brown says

      August 26, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      I’d love to have you in the class, Sandy. For part or all of it.

      Reply
      • Sandra Heska King says

        August 27, 2019 at 7:14 am

        Seriously considering if I could handle it and still make my editor happy. 😉

        Reply
        • Laura Lynn Brown says

          August 27, 2019 at 7:48 am

          Fingers crossed …

          Reply
        • L.L. Barkat says

          August 27, 2019 at 8:21 am

          Your editor is always happy. 😉

          Reply
  4. Mary Lou Janota says

    August 26, 2019 at 1:28 pm

    Hi

    Thank you for this info about writing workshop opportunities. They all look interesting.

    Is there more information about the individual instructors available? I’d be interested in a bio page.

    I would also be interested in actual live classroom instruction, not just online courses. Are they available?

    Sincerely,
    Mary Lou Janota

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 26, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      Mary Lou, thanks for asking. The bios are on each workshop page. So, for example, the bio above for Laura Lynn Brown says:

      “Laura Lynn Brown, a writing instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, is also an author, editor and writing coach who honed her writing and editing talents at The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Her work was named as a Notable Essay in the 2013 Best American Essays. Laura has an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh and is the author of Everything That Makes You Mom. One of her loves is writing about her home city, Pittsburgh.”

      You can see more of Laura’s writing here:

      https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/author/laura-lynn-brown/

      Also, these are online classes. Where are you (approximately) located? 🙂

      Reply
    • Laura Lynn Brown says

      August 26, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      Mary Lou, yes, thank you for your questions. You can also read some of my older writing here. https://www.arthouseamerica.com/blog?author=58e07dd23f405842e6c7c6a6

      Let me know if I there’s something specific you’d like to know more about.

      Reply
  5. Sandra Heska King says

    August 29, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    Because “Sometimes adding a thing makes us productive in getting all the things done.”

    Reply
    • L.L. Barkat says

      August 29, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      True. 🙂 I got a lot of “all the things” done today because I’ve added a big commuting change to my schedule. 🙂 (I also didn’t do any dishes, but, hey. 😉

      Reply

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