THE WRITER’S VOICE
A six-week writing intensive designed to help writers understand voice as a whole, and to understand the elements that make her own voice unique.
The exercises are mostly timed writings, and are designed to build, week by week, to help you see what you have to offer the world with your work. Are you a funny ethnic writer with a thread of poignancy? A serious historical novelist with roots deep in a particular time? What influenced you to become a writer and what do you want to get from it? Who taught you to speak, and what have you read and loved? These are all elements of the writer’s voice.
The class runs from Tuesday to Tuesday, and is comprised of lecture, exercises and discussion. Due to the intensive nature of the reading and writing requirement, class size is limited to 8. If an entire critique or other like group takes it together, there is a 10% discount, and as always, I will offer one scholarship available for each segment. To be considered, email me with “scholarship” in the subject line and specify which class and date you want to be considered for.
Questions? Email me.
COST: $225
DATES: April 30th–June 4th 3013
July 30th–Sept 3rd 2013
IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT INTEREST, I WILL CONSIDER OFFERING THE VOICE II CLASS LATER IN THE FALL.
SYLLABUS
WEEK ONE:
What is voice, exactly?
Childhood and cultural influences
WEEK TWO
Becoming Aware: ourselves and our places
Voice vs. Style
WEEK THREE
Other influences: other writers, stories, genres.
Individual truth and emotional honestly; why writing is scary sometimes, even if you’re making it up and the heroine is a princess for heaven’s sake
WEEK FOUR
Check in: how does it feel? Discussion.
More on influences and exercises on how to see them, see yourself, see others, pick out a voice
Illustrating the differences.
WEEK FIVE
Exercises designed to show individual voice and quests.
Two part exercise designed to illustrate each individual voice. Reading, side by side posts.
WEEK SIX
Pulling it all together. A worksheet and discussion to help each writer answer lingering questions, put all her ideas in one place, and have a chance to display her own work.
To sign up for the class, email me and I will give you details.
To apply for a scholarship, email me with VOICE SCHOLARSHIP in the subject line. I’ll draw names from a hat the week before the class starts. Please don’t feel you have to give reasons. I’ve been there, and I trust you–if you can pay, you will.
Wow. This looks like an amazing class, Barbara. I wish I had the time to devote to it as I would love to do it.
Barbara – I would like to be considered for a scholarship. I have a feeling this may be exactly what I need right now. I am questioning everything about myself as a writer at the moment.
Consider me but no worries if it doesn’t work out.
Judy, please send me an email so I have your scholarship request in the right place, will you? I’m notorious for losing things!
I am very interested in taking this class. How do I sign up?
Thanks!
Email me at the address above.
YoungArts provides emerging artists (ages 15-18 or grades 10-12) with life-changing experiences with renowned mentors, access to significant scholarships, national recognition, and other opportunities throughout their careers to help ensure that the nation’s most outstanding young artists are encouraged to pursue careers in the arts. Support is offered in ten artistic disciplines: cinematic arts, dance, design, jazz, music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing.