This workshop is full. To be added to the waitlist, email Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org.
A 2 Day Fiction Workshop
MONDAY FEBRUARY 21 & FEBRUARY 28
Level: All Levels
For many of us, a full page is scarier than a blank one. A draft becomes a mess of problems to be solved, triggering insecurity and perfectionism. Workshop critiques echo in our brains, drowning out our own thoughts. Or, revision turns into minor tweaking for fear of upsetting a house of cards. Inertia becomes a normal state of being. But what if revisions were done in the spirit of playful curiosity, not problem-solving? What if text, by its nature, is alive—meaning never finished? In the words of Ellen Bryant Voigt, "It's all a draft until you die." What if the point of revision is not to “fix” the story, but to learn from it?
In this workshop, perfectionism is banned. Results are secondary: what matters is process. Participants will approach a single text with multiple modes of revision to release the hidden story inside the story, sharpen the story’s friction and energy, discover metaphor, and make the language more singular and alive. We will take inspiration from the methodologies of Robert Boswell, Lynda Barry, Natalie Goldberg, Philip Metres, Brian Eno, and others. Exercises will encourage lateral thinking and happy accidents. Participants are invited to bring a short passage (500 words) to revise, or to use a new passage generated in the first session. Work will be shared aloud.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, February 17, from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Anne Elliott is the author of The Artstars: Stories (Indiana University Press) and The Beginning of the End of the Beginning (Ploughshares Solos). Her short fiction can be found in Story, A Public Space, Crab Orchard Review, Witness, Hobart, Bellevue Literary Review, Fifth Wednesday Journal, and elsewhere. Elliott is a veteran of the New York spoken word circuit, with stage credits including The Whitney Museum, Lincoln Center, PS122, and Woodstock '94. Her fiction has been awarded support from The Story Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, The Normal School, Table 4 Writer's Foundation, and The Bridport Prize. She holds an MFA in visual art from UC San Diego, and an MFA in fiction writing from Warren Wilson College. She lives in Maine. Learn more at www.anneelliottstories.com.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on February 10 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION