For the fourth summer, the Knoxville Writers’ Guild is holding summer workshops at Pellissippi State’s Magnolia Avenue campus.
The class schedule for July includes “Short Story Writing,” “Five Mistakes Writers Shouldn’t Make” and “Writing for Beginners.”
In a three-session class which begins July 11, Brian Griffen, a short story author, will guide the exploration of the elements of fiction writing in the short story writing class. The class will cover choosing a topic and keeping it throughout the story, using language and explaining how conflict within a character is a must for a successful story. At the end of the course, Griffin will critique student manuscripts.
Another class, “Five Mistakes Writers Shouldn’t Make,” shows how to identify and correct mistakes. Catherine Landis, a published novelist, will be instructing the course. This one-session class is scheduled for July 15.
Held on July 24, “Writing for Beginners” will focus on subjects such as writing a great opening line, writing effective dialogue and formatting a manuscript. Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Don Williams is the instructor of the class. Williams will also speak on how to get freelance articles published.
Everyone is welcome to attend, including aspiring professional writers and those who write for fun. The price for each class varies depending on whether or not you are a Knoxville Writers’ Guild member. Students can join the guild by paying a $15 membership fee.
“The turnout usually varies quite a bit,” said John Reaves, head of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild’s summer classes. “We would actually like to have more than our usual 10 to 12 people per class. However, smaller classes are nicer for the participants.
“The idea is to study an area of writing and to improve writing skills,” Reaves said. “The presenters are local successful writers, (and) this is a chance for them to help people whose careers aren’t as far along.”
Prospective participants can sign up for July courses by completing a form online at www.knoxvillewritersguild.org. For more information, call John Reaves at 689-2651 or e-mail him at [email protected].
“Although it is possible to join a class on the night it begins, it is dangerous because the class could get canceled for some reason such as illness,” Reaves said.
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild is 10 years old and is comprised of a group of people who are interested in writing and promoting writing in the community, Reaves said. Members of the guild include published and non-published writers and avid readers.
They have monthly meetings with guest speakers and participate in special literary projects.
“We send writers to public schools to read and talk about writing,” Reaves said. “We also publish books; our fifth anthology is being put together currently.”
