Hanging Out With Writers

 

I  attended the annual UCLA Extension Writers’ Program Retreat last weekend – a time to hang out with other writing instructors and to be part of sessions that explore new writing exercises and teaching challenges etc. Picture the best party you’ve ever been to with the most interesting people you know with enough things to talk about for the next three weeks non-stop – and that’s what these retreats are like. There were screenwriting, fiction, non-fiction, poetry and kids’ books instructors - those who teach on-line and off-line. To get together like this is heady stuff cause we’re all writers and spend an awful lot of time alone in front of a computer, and even those of us who teach in a classroom still rarely see our peers.  If you live in or near L.A. and want to write, come check out the Writers’ Program. I’m teaching a six week course right now that’s full, but my one day workshop on Writing Your Own History is open (October 24^th) and the Writers Studio is coming up in February – a four day intensive workshop (five for screenwriting and five for creative writing.) This is a wonderful opportunity to really get serious about your writing. If you have any questions, drop me an email ([email protected]) or get in touch with the Writers Program. (www.uclaextension.org)

 

Comments

[Cindy Lieberman]

Thanks for the shout out, Barbara. It was great to see you on Saturday!

[Loren Stephens]

I'm teaching "writing your life story" tomorrow at the Bowers Museum and of course recommending your latest book along with Natalie Goldberg's Old Friend from Far Away -- the two must haves for anyone wanting to write memoir. So, your class on the 24th sounds great. I'll check schedule and also look at the Writers Intensive in February. By the way, Cynthia, Yaz, Robert and I are still holding together as a writers group, thanks to you. Hugs, Loren

[Barbara]

Cindy - Always my pleasure!

Loren - Thanks - and hope you can make the one day class. Love to that wonderful writers group!

[Theresa C]

I'm so envious! I wish there was a weekly gathering for writers in my area. I would love the opportunity to get immediate feedback and read what other people had to say. Perhaps I should start something...

[Barbara]

Theresa - Yes, start your own group - just set boundaries that it's a POSITIVE group. Good luck!

[Mas]

Boooooooooooks. I think I need to get that self-editing book. Might come just in time. I'm only inspired to write when I'm rdiaeng. It's binge-y. One feeds the other. I need to figure that out. I need to write every day. I LONG to write every day. After working 7am to 7pm at the store today, I'm going to try for a paragraph. Some days lately, it's all I can conjur. Right now I'm rdiaeng short stories by Alice Munro, Raymond Carver, Ann Beattie, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jennifer Egan and a new book of stories I just bought called, The Book of Life by Stuart Nadler. Munro and Carver are nice because they are quick reads. Morsels. Also, spending time every night with Conversations with Ernest Hemingway. I never really liked that thing Sam Shepard said. I think it sounds kinda arrogant. I admit I'm enamoured with descriptions of or pictures of writers' homes, especially when there are stacks and stacks of books laying about in every room. Just read an interview with said Ernest where the interviewer describes his house (books everywhere: floors, shelves, in every room. Remember all the books everywhere at Eudora's place!?) and HOW he writes: standing, he writes longhand with a pencil on sheets of white tracing paper fastened to a clipboard. When he fills (oops,present tense) a page he pulls off that sheet, turns it over and stacks it beneath his desk. I just can't get enough. Still, if I had a written page for every chapter I've ever read well. Maybe I'd be my own boss sipping coffee in the morning, gearing up for my day of work twenty feet away from my coffee press, at my white desk. I love your posts, Kel! Fun!