‘Back to School’ opportunities abound for writers
Programs for writers wanting to learn or hone creative writing craft skills are plentiful this fall in the Miami Valley.
Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop
The popular workshop was scheduled for this past spring at University of Dayton, but postponed due to COVID-19. Now, the workshop will go virtual, and be held online Oct. 29-31. Because of the virtual setting, the registration cost is lower ($199). Registration opens on Sept. 1 at humorwriters.org/2020-workshop.
Emmy Award winners, celebrated authors and comedians will headline the virtual workshop, which includes six keynote speakers, 25 sessions, an attendee stand-up comedy show and Pitchapalooza, billed as
The virtual ErmaBombeckWriters’Workshop will feature six keynote speakers.
“American Idol for books, only kinder.”
The workshop will be recorded through the interactive platform Crowdcast, which gives attendees the opportunity to watch replays of every session.
“Erma Bombeck had a couple book titles that speak to our times — ‘If Life is a Bowl of Cherries,' ‘What Am I Doing in the Pits?' and ‘Aunt Erma's Cope Book.' I am certain she is cheering us on from above with our new virtual format urging us to not just cope, but revel in our ability to reach an even bigger audience,” observed emcee PatriciaWynn Brown
in a press release from the workshop. Brown has participated in every workshop since its founding 20 years ago.
“In a pandemic with the conference facing its second postponement, we asked, ‘WWEW? — WhatWould ErmaWant? We are doing it. Carrying on,” she said.
Headliners include Mike Rowe, of “Dirty Jobs” fame and hismother Peggy Rowe, who penned two New York Times' bestsellers after the age of 80; Annabelle Gurwitch, New York Times' bestselling author of four books, actress, essayist and storyteller and the original co-host for “Dinner and a Movie” on TBS; Wendy Liebman, stand-up comedian who has performed on late-night shows — from Carson to Kimmel — and appeared in comedy specials on HBO, Comedy Central and Showtime; Mike Reiss, Emmy Awardwinning writer for “The Simpsons” and author of “Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a LifetimeWriting for The Simpsons” and 19 children's books; Sophfronia Scott, award-winning novelist, journalist and essayist who's been hailed by historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. as “potentially one of the best writers of her generation.”
The workshop will feature 30 experienced writers and publishing professionals, including Ohio authors Katrina Kittle, Jessica Strawser, Lee Martin and (in full disclosure), myself.
You can read about all of the presenters and the sessions on the workshop's website.
The virtual workshop is co-sponsored by the University of Dayton's Alumni Association, College of
Arts and Sciences and Bookstore; Smashwords; National Society of Newspaper Columnists; Writer's Digest; Books & Co.; and theWashington-Centerville Public Library. Additional operating support is provided by the Erma BombeckWriters'Workshop Endowment, A Hotel Room of One's Own: The Erma Bombeck | Anna Lefler Humorist-in-Residence Program and Nickie's Prize for HumorWriting.
Wright Memorial Library
TheWright Library is supporting writers with a series of workshops for the 2020/2021 academic year, all online via Zoom until further notice, with a series of writing workshops, “Wright@Wright,” sponsored by theWright Library Foundation. All experience levels are welcome, and the workshops are free, but registration is required. Registration for each workshop opens a month before the workshop.
Registrants will receive the Zoom invitation and link to attend the workshops.
The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-3:30 p.m., “Using History to Enhance YourWriting — In Any Genre,” led by yours truly.
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2-3:30 p.m., “Elements of a Scene,” with Meredith Doench.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2-3:30, “Memoir: Unlocking the Treasure of Personal Story,” with Joanne Huist Smith
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2-3:30 p.m., “Writing for Tweens and Teens,” with Judy DaPolito
Sunday, March 7, 2-3:30 p.m., “The Art of Suspense,” with TimWaggoner
April 2021, day and time to be determined, Poetry, with Gary Mitchner
Sunday, May 2, 2-3:30 p.m., “The Process ofWriting: Tools and Insights,” with Ann Hagedorn
Learn more and register at https://wrightlibrary.org/ writingseries.
Sharon Short writes historicalmysteries under the pennameJess Montgomery (www. jessmontgomeryauthor. com). Send her column ideas, book club news, or literary events at sharonshort1983@ gmail.com.