| | 
What are your credentials?
I am a professional writer and certified AWA writing workshop facilitator. In fact, I am the only AWA affiliate offering generative writing workshops using the AWA method in the Houston metro area. Get more color about me here. Why the AWA method?
A plant shoot tentatively taking root needs nurturing, not pruning. The AWA method gives our small “story plants” permission to root and grow. An AWA workshop is a safe place for writers of all levels of experience. This can’t be said of all writers’ groups. Too many groups are grounded in uncovering what’s wrong with a piece rather than what’s right with it, in the misguided notion that this will encourage the writer. And even when positively constructive, critique has absolutely no business interacting with generative writing, which is new and unpolished. Art comes first in the AWA method. As AWA creator Pat Schneider writes in her book: "Craft is knowing when to revise a manuscript and when to leave it alone, but art is the fire in the mind that put the story on the page in the first place." Our workshop exercises ignite that fire, sparking stories, poems, essays, and more...almost like magic. What is “generative writing?”
Generative writing is the “clay” from which finished pieces are molded, and is what an AWA workshop is all about. In the course of a session, I offer prompts and suggestions for timed writing exercises. Then we all write together, each person taking the prompt wherever his or her imagination wants to go. It never stops surprising me how fresh, vivid, and exciting a spontaneous first draft can be when the exercise is right. I have not found a better way to accelerate and catalyze generative writing than the AWA method. Who can join a Writer Under Wraps group?
Anyone with a burning desire to write, whether to publish or not. People of all ages, professions, skill levels, and genre interests are warmly welcomed. No writing sample is necessary. The only requirement is your willingness to write and to be a constructive group member. What kind of writing do you do in the workshop?
My workshops are “generative,” which means we write new material on the spot. Participants do not bring in pre-existing manuscripts for feedback. Instead: We write during the workshop, in response to various exercises and in different time periods. We read our writing aloud if we wish. After listening to another participant’s writing, we respond with positive feedback—what stayed with us, what was strong, what we liked. We learn to recognize, cultivate, and trust our individual voices.
While my own experience is primarily in commercial and creative non-fiction, the workshops benefit by practicing different forms and genres . Except in rare instances, our writing exercises can be approached from any angle or genre focus. Writers working in any forms, including novels, essays, poems, or plays, or those writing for specific audiences such as children or young adults are enthusiastically welcome. What can I expect in a workshop session?
You can count on the following: Weekly handouts with encouraging, illustrative, instructive or inspiring quotes and information. You will be offered exercises that guide you in some relaxation and visualizing, utilize pictures or objects to stimulate your imagination or memories, or involve listening to music, a poem or other writing; others may be more craft-focused or directed. You will be offered at least one short and one long exercise each week. We will have one long exercise if we do manuscript critique, or two long exercises if there are no manuscripts on the session schedule. You are never required to follow the prompt -- you can always ignore the assignment and write in whatever direction you want, about any emotions that come to you, any memories or ideas, on any topic. You will be invited and encouraged, but never required, to read your work out loud after the conclusion of an exercise. All writing shared in the workshop will be treated as fiction unless a writer specifically requests that we consider a piece of writing as non-fiction. Confidentiality to be strictly observed. The workshop thus becomes a safe, nurturing place for you to experiment and stretch in your creative writing. Your will never be required to turn in assignments or homework! You can arrange one one-on-one session with me at any point in the workshop duration (6 or 8 weeks depending on the workshop) to discuss your writing. This is included with your paid-in-full enrollment. We will discuss writing craft, genre, publishing and other matters of interest to the group as these topics fit into our sessions.
When and where are your workshops?
I offer 5-week workshops through Leisure Learning Unlimited, a "lifelong learning" company that offers a variety of evening workshops in the Houston area. Location is in the Galleria area of the city. For more information about dates, times, and location, or to enquire about workshops in other Houston locations, please contact me. Can I attend a workshop session before deciding to register?
From time to time, I offer Demo Days for people who would like to sample the workshop format before enrolling. Because space is limited, you need to sign up to attend a Demo Day; you can sign up to be notified about upcoming Demo Days, workshops, and retreats. Can I further develop what I write in the workshop?
Absolutely! Many participants use the workshops to develop material for a work in progress. In fact, I encourage you to do your workshop writing in a journal or notebook that you can keep and go back to if you want. What about if I am working on something? Can I bring it in for critique?
We critique work-in-progress of fellow writers in manuscript form when requested. Will you talk about the craft of writing?
We will talk about aspects of craft, such as dialogue, as appropriate. I will also share all kinds of writing resources that might be of interest. I'm ready to join! How do I sign up?
I am accepting requests for the current workshop. Please contact me and I will arrange a phone conversation to give you more details, answer your questions, and let you know the date, time, and location. I see the name 4-R Marketing on your site. What is this company?
4-R Marketing is my own company. I provide marketing consulting to service companies, and a very large part of my revenue comes from what I call "content creation," which encompasses whole range of commercial writing for a wide variety of clients. For administrative ease on my part, Writer Under Wraps is a division of 4-R Marketing. Please note that if you sign up for the Writer Under Wraps mailing list, you will NOT automatically end up on the 4-R mailing list. Of course, you are most welcome to subscribe to the 4-R list! | | |
