Teaching a workshop at Queens, jabbering about politics at Wingate

A couple of things I'm doing over the next few weeks:

-- I'm teaching my "Writing In 3-D" workshop at Queens University on Feb. 18 and 25. More information and details about signing up are here on Queens' site. This is a good introduction to writing for people just starting out, but it also has some advanced tips for writers looking to get better.

-- On Feb. 9, I'll be part of an election roundtable at Wingate University -- it's free, and it starts at 6:30 p.m. at the McGee Theatre in the Batte Center. I'll be there along with Tony Nownes, a political-science professor at the University of Tennessee, and Scott Huffmon, a poli-sci professor at Winthrop University and director of the Winthrop Poll. So at least two of the people on stage will know what they're talking about.

A new workshop at Queens

I've been doing writing workshops at Queens University for a while now. They're a lot of fun, at least from my end -- we've had lots of good conversations, and I haven't talked anyone into a deep sleep yet.

(I spoke to a big class at the University of Georgia a few years ago, and about 10 seconds after I started talking, two girls in the front row fell asleep. I apologized to the professor afterward. "Not your fault," he said. "They fall asleep every class.")

I've got a new workshop next month on the personal essay -- we'll talk about how to discover what you ought to be writing about, and how to go about writing it. It's a two-session workshop on June 4 and 11. Here's how to sign up. If you have any questions, drop me a line.

Here's a short video clip from an earlier class. It features my dulcet voice, which my friends have described as "obscene phone caller in training."

Last call for Queens workshop

Just a reminder, y'all, that my workshop "A Writer's Life: Building a Career as a Professional Writer" begins Saturday at Queens University. It's a two-part class -- half on Saturday and the other half March 12.

We'll be talking about the essentials of turning pro, how to figure out what to write about, how to sharpen your writing, how to get noticed, and 25 ways (at least!) to make a living with words.

If all that sounds good to you, here's where you can sign up.

Here's one last video that Queens produced for the workshop... this was in front of one of those green screens where you can project anything as a backdrop, and it looks like they went with the '70s talk-show motif. Next time I'm going to ask for flying dragons.

Time running out for Queens workshop

So I'm teaching this workshop at Queens University on how to be a professional writer, and it turns out the seats are filling up fast. The workshop is March 5 and 12 (that's all one workshop -- we do half the first Saturday and the other half the next Saturday). If you're interested, go sign up now.

I've been doing workshops at Queens for a while now, and they're designed to be low-pressure -- I'm not grading papers or giving exams or anything. (Although there might be some homework.) I'm still learning this teaching stuff, but I think you'll come out of it having learned something too.

Here's a video clip from an earlier class, about submitting your work for publication. We'll be talking about this in a lot more detail in the upcoming workshop.



Come hang out with us. It'll be fun.

Come write with me at Queens

A quick reminder: I'm teaching another session of my "Writing in 3-D" class starting Saturday at Queens University. It's broken up into two 3-hour sessions, one this Saturday and one on Dec. 11. Here's some more details. (If you want to sign up, click the "Availability/Register" button on that page.)

I've taught this class a few times now; nobody has fallen asleep, and everybody seems to have had fun. It's designed for people at all levels of writing skill, so if you're a beginner or you're trying to finish up that masterpiece, I think you'll learn a little something.

Holler if you have any questions, and I hope to see you Saturday.

Teaching a class, reading at StorySlam!

Just wanted to let everybody know about a couple of events coming up:

-- I'm teaching another writing class at Queens University... it's the "Writing in 3-D" class that I've done a couple times already this year. I'll be teaching it over two Saturday mornings, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. We've had good crowds for this class so far, and I think people have learned a little bit. I've definitely had fun. Here's how to sign up. Holler if you have questions.

-- I'm also reading some of my work at StorySlam! Charlotte at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12. The other guests that night are poet/novelist/raconteur John Hartness and lawyer/writer/rock 'n' roll demon David Childers. I had a ball reading with John the last time I did StorySlam!, and I've admired David pretty much ever since I set foot in Charlotte. Here's some info about StorySlam! -- we're not on the calendar for some reason, but I'm told it's a go. Come check it out.

Come talk about writing with me

I wanted to let y'all know about two workshops I'm teaching in September... they're both good chances to talk about writing and to hear my speaking voice, which can best be described as "obscene phone caller in training."

The first one is at Queens University -- it's a four-week class on Thursday nights starting Sept. 9 and ending Sept. 30. Here's the signup page. It's a repeat of a class called "Writing In 3-D" that I did last month -- but spread out a little, and held at night, to accommodate people on a different schedule. This workshop is heavy on writing tools -- lots of practical ways to get better.

The second one is a one-day workshop Sept. 11 at The Farm at Weathers Creek in Iredell County. Here's more information on that one, which is part of a writers' series they have up there. There's some overlap with the Queens class, but this workshop will have a little bit more focus on creativity -- building a creative life for yourself.

I leave lots of time for questions, comments, tangents, etc., and these classes always end up being lots of fun.

Holler in the comments or drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.

Now that you've read all that, you deserve a reward. Here's the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain.