RBWG Online (Email) Tutorials
Fall, 2020
Please Note: Because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, we are offering all online (email) tutorials and two Zoom classes. The tutorials are one-on-one with the instructor via email. To register (full descriptions below) please email Maribeth at fischer.maribeth@gmail.com. Do not send payment until we confirm that the class will run.
Weekly Calendar
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Because we are committed to keeping our classes small and because we can only continue to do this if participants commit to and pay for all classes, we ask that ONCE WE CONFIRM THAT THE CLASS WILL RUN, you pay for the full class amount up front. If you are interested in a class and cannot pay for it up front, just send Maribeth an email and we’ll work out a payment plan. As always, we are open to suggestions about classes you’d like to see offered. Please send suggestions to Maribeth at fischer.maribeth@gmail.com. To register and pay:
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Fiction
Fiction Tutorial -- Maribeth Fischer (8 weeks)
When: Tuesdays: Sep 8, 15, 22, 29 and Oct 6, 20, 27 and Nov 3 (no work due Oct 13)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $360; Non-Members $400
This is a tutorial for those who are working on a novel or a collection of linked stories and want the discipline provided by a weekly deadline but also the encouragement and constructive critiques that will develop both character and plot (which often makes it easier to figure out what to write next). Whether you are ten pages into the novel/collection or 100, each Tuesday you’ll submit up to 2,000 words of your fiction to Maribeth for critique. She’ll return it within two days with praise for what is working (crucial to the process), suggestions about where to develop the work more fully, and questions to get you thinking about the big picture of the book (these could be anything from point-of-view issues to plot questions). For the most part, the goal will be to simply move the story forward.
Graduate School in a Box (or Essentials of Fiction Writing) -- Maribeth Fischer (8 weeks)
When: Fridays, Sep 4, 11, 18, 25 and Oct 2, 9, 23, 30 (no "class" on Oct 16)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $360; Non-Members $400
This is a tutorial for those writers who are coming to creative writing after years in the business, legal, or academic world. You know how to write; you’ve done it your whole life, but fiction is a whole different ballgame and you aren’t sure how to get started, though you’d love to try writing stories, or a novel maybe... Or maybe you have written creatively for years, but never actually learned—or perhaps want to review—the fundamental techniques of fiction writing.
Each week we’ll explore a key aspect of fiction writing, doing brief exercises that will allow participants to better understand the techniques and how to apply them in their own work. We’ll look at how to create three-dimensional characters who “seem to breathe on the page” (yes, there are specific techniques and rules to guide writers); we’ll discuss how to create compelling plots and what constitutes plot (do you have to have it figured out before you begin? Should you?); we’ll discuss point of view and why it’s essential to all writing, look at how and when to write flashbacks—or flash forwards; review the essential ingredients of good dialogue, and much much more. Each tutorial will cover years of creative writing “lessons” distilled into what is essential for every writer to know.
Participants will be given a short assignment each week (and if the writer is currently working on a project—starting a novel, writing a story—these assignments can be used to develop the writing of that specific project). Maribeth will offer feedback on assignments.
When: Tuesdays: Sep 8, 15, 22, 29 and Oct 6, 20, 27 and Nov 3 (no work due Oct 13)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $360; Non-Members $400
This is a tutorial for those who are working on a novel or a collection of linked stories and want the discipline provided by a weekly deadline but also the encouragement and constructive critiques that will develop both character and plot (which often makes it easier to figure out what to write next). Whether you are ten pages into the novel/collection or 100, each Tuesday you’ll submit up to 2,000 words of your fiction to Maribeth for critique. She’ll return it within two days with praise for what is working (crucial to the process), suggestions about where to develop the work more fully, and questions to get you thinking about the big picture of the book (these could be anything from point-of-view issues to plot questions). For the most part, the goal will be to simply move the story forward.
Graduate School in a Box (or Essentials of Fiction Writing) -- Maribeth Fischer (8 weeks)
When: Fridays, Sep 4, 11, 18, 25 and Oct 2, 9, 23, 30 (no "class" on Oct 16)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $360; Non-Members $400
This is a tutorial for those writers who are coming to creative writing after years in the business, legal, or academic world. You know how to write; you’ve done it your whole life, but fiction is a whole different ballgame and you aren’t sure how to get started, though you’d love to try writing stories, or a novel maybe... Or maybe you have written creatively for years, but never actually learned—or perhaps want to review—the fundamental techniques of fiction writing.
Each week we’ll explore a key aspect of fiction writing, doing brief exercises that will allow participants to better understand the techniques and how to apply them in their own work. We’ll look at how to create three-dimensional characters who “seem to breathe on the page” (yes, there are specific techniques and rules to guide writers); we’ll discuss how to create compelling plots and what constitutes plot (do you have to have it figured out before you begin? Should you?); we’ll discuss point of view and why it’s essential to all writing, look at how and when to write flashbacks—or flash forwards; review the essential ingredients of good dialogue, and much much more. Each tutorial will cover years of creative writing “lessons” distilled into what is essential for every writer to know.
Participants will be given a short assignment each week (and if the writer is currently working on a project—starting a novel, writing a story—these assignments can be used to develop the writing of that specific project). Maribeth will offer feedback on assignments.
Poetry
Making Time to Write: Generating New Poems III — Gail Comorat (4 weeks)
When: Thursdays: Oct 22, 29 and Nov 5, 12
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
"I think it’s fair to say that if we didn’t have poetry that this would be a pretty barren world."
— Barack Obama
As we continue to isolate, this online tutorial will provide weekly prompts to get you started or to keep you writing new poems. It’s a tutorial for all levels; you need not to have taken previous Making Time to Write classes. Each week you’ll be challenged with three different prompts, a chance to write three poems—which means that over the course of four weeks, you’ll have the rough drafts of a dozen new poems! Each participant will send one assignment poem of their choice to the instructor weekly for feedback. You’ll play with forms and experiment with writing about opposites. You’ll tell family stories and write response poems. This is the perfect time to make a commitment to writing new work, a time to make the world less barren by creating some fresh poetry.
When: Thursdays: Oct 22, 29 and Nov 5, 12
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
"I think it’s fair to say that if we didn’t have poetry that this would be a pretty barren world."
— Barack Obama
As we continue to isolate, this online tutorial will provide weekly prompts to get you started or to keep you writing new poems. It’s a tutorial for all levels; you need not to have taken previous Making Time to Write classes. Each week you’ll be challenged with three different prompts, a chance to write three poems—which means that over the course of four weeks, you’ll have the rough drafts of a dozen new poems! Each participant will send one assignment poem of their choice to the instructor weekly for feedback. You’ll play with forms and experiment with writing about opposites. You’ll tell family stories and write response poems. This is the perfect time to make a commitment to writing new work, a time to make the world less barren by creating some fresh poetry.
Nonfiction
Mining for Memoir — Ellen Collins (4 weeks)
When: Thursdays: Sep 17, 24, and Oct 1, 8
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
Where are your stories buried? What are the stories that keep rising to the surface, begging to be told? In this tutorial, we will experiment with ways to unearth the stories using a variety of prompts and writing strategies including flash forward, flashback, and letters.
Micro-Memoir — Sarah Barnett (4 weeks)
When: Wednesdays, Sep 23, 30, and Oct 7, 14
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
In this tutorial you'll practice writing about your life as a series of small moments. Starting with an object, an incident, a line of dialogue, participants will develop one or two brief stand-alone essays or “micro-memoirs.” Perfect for those who find traditional memoir a bit daunting, or those who have been journaling or freewriting and have pages of miscellaneous “snippets” they'd like to turn into finished stories.
Nonfiction Workshop for Beginners — Rae Tyson (4 weeks)
When: Fridays, Sep. 25, and Oct. 2, 9, 16; 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
When it comes to creativity, fiction writing dominates. Or does it? Good nonfiction also relies on heavy doses of creative writing. The nonfiction bonus is writing about things that are true. “That’s the gift of nonfiction: the surety that the stories are real, and the weight that lived experience imparts to narrative,” says writer Linda Lowen. “The task, then, is to write nonfiction that’s compelling, and that’s the skill new writers often find toughest to master.” And that nicely summarizes the challenge of writing readable, entertaining nonfiction. This online workshop will address those challenges within a range of nonfiction genres.
There will be writing exercises in class along with home assignments. Because the course will be offered remotely, handouts will be distributed electronically.
Writing Memoir for Beginners — Rae Tyson (4 weeks)
When: Thursdays, Oct. 22, 29, and Nov. 5, 12; 10:00- 11:15 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
As a means of preserving your personal legacy, memoirs offer a great alternative. “Writing about one’s life is a powerful personal need,” wrote William Zinsser, the acclaimed teacher and writer. But crafting a good memoir can be a challenge. For some, the mere act of getting started can be a formidable task. This online workshop will help launch that memoir writing journey even if you have never written before or don’t consider yourself a writer. There will be multiple writing exercises in class along with home assignments. Because the course will be offered remotely, handouts will be distributed electronically.
Creative Nonfiction DIY — Maribeth Fischer (6 weeks)
When: Mondays: Sep 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5, 19, 26 (no work due Oct. 12)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $270; Non-Members $300
"Essays like these might begin with uncertainties and curiosities. They also develop through questions. And when writers stumble across confusions and contradictions, rather than delete them, they wrap their arms around them."
--Heather Lanier, “In Praise of Darkness” Poets and Writers. Sep/Oct 2018
In this six week tutorial, writers of creative nonfiction have a choice: they can:
You tell me the project and I’ll come up with weekly goals and assignments (and if possible, readings) that might help you.
When: Thursdays: Sep 17, 24, and Oct 1, 8
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
Where are your stories buried? What are the stories that keep rising to the surface, begging to be told? In this tutorial, we will experiment with ways to unearth the stories using a variety of prompts and writing strategies including flash forward, flashback, and letters.
Micro-Memoir — Sarah Barnett (4 weeks)
When: Wednesdays, Sep 23, 30, and Oct 7, 14
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
In this tutorial you'll practice writing about your life as a series of small moments. Starting with an object, an incident, a line of dialogue, participants will develop one or two brief stand-alone essays or “micro-memoirs.” Perfect for those who find traditional memoir a bit daunting, or those who have been journaling or freewriting and have pages of miscellaneous “snippets” they'd like to turn into finished stories.
Nonfiction Workshop for Beginners — Rae Tyson (4 weeks)
When: Fridays, Sep. 25, and Oct. 2, 9, 16; 10-11:30 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
When it comes to creativity, fiction writing dominates. Or does it? Good nonfiction also relies on heavy doses of creative writing. The nonfiction bonus is writing about things that are true. “That’s the gift of nonfiction: the surety that the stories are real, and the weight that lived experience imparts to narrative,” says writer Linda Lowen. “The task, then, is to write nonfiction that’s compelling, and that’s the skill new writers often find toughest to master.” And that nicely summarizes the challenge of writing readable, entertaining nonfiction. This online workshop will address those challenges within a range of nonfiction genres.
There will be writing exercises in class along with home assignments. Because the course will be offered remotely, handouts will be distributed electronically.
Writing Memoir for Beginners — Rae Tyson (4 weeks)
When: Thursdays, Oct. 22, 29, and Nov. 5, 12; 10:00- 11:15 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Cost: RBWG Members $180; Non-Members $200
As a means of preserving your personal legacy, memoirs offer a great alternative. “Writing about one’s life is a powerful personal need,” wrote William Zinsser, the acclaimed teacher and writer. But crafting a good memoir can be a challenge. For some, the mere act of getting started can be a formidable task. This online workshop will help launch that memoir writing journey even if you have never written before or don’t consider yourself a writer. There will be multiple writing exercises in class along with home assignments. Because the course will be offered remotely, handouts will be distributed electronically.
Creative Nonfiction DIY — Maribeth Fischer (6 weeks)
When: Mondays: Sep 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5, 19, 26 (no work due Oct. 12)
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members $270; Non-Members $300
"Essays like these might begin with uncertainties and curiosities. They also develop through questions. And when writers stumble across confusions and contradictions, rather than delete them, they wrap their arms around them."
--Heather Lanier, “In Praise of Darkness” Poets and Writers. Sep/Oct 2018
In this six week tutorial, writers of creative nonfiction have a choice: they can:
- Start an essay from scratch (all that’s needed is an idea for an essay and the ability to write a paragraph or two about it)
- Revise an essay draft from another class (which isn’t about fixing small mistakes but really digging into the draft to see what can be developed and deepened)
- Continue working on the start of an essay begun in a previous class.
- A combination of the above: perhaps you want to revise one essay for three weeks; then develop another for the remaining three weeks
You tell me the project and I’ll come up with weekly goals and assignments (and if possible, readings) that might help you.
Mixed Genre
A Prompt A Day -- Judy Catterton (four weeks)
Limited to 5 Participants
When: October 5-31
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members; $225; Non-Members $250
Each week day for most of October, a writing prompt will be emailed to you that you will
respond to, sending your replies (between 100-500 words) back to Judy Catterton. Although
she’ll offer very brief responses each day, at the end of the week (Friday) you’ll let her know
which of the five pieces you most like and might want to develop and she’ll offer more
detailed suggestions on this piece. What is great about this “tutorial” is not only that you will
be writing everyday—and accountable to your writing every day—but that the prompts are
truly varied, offering a variety of avenues to explore and opening a door into numerous
possibilities: You might end up writing piece of memoir, or voicing your opinions and views
about an issue, or starting a short story.
For example: this might be a prompt: September is a time when ordinarily our thoughts turn
to school. Maybe the drop in temperature makes us think of new shoes, notebooks or
football. Do you have a story about the opening of the school year? Maybe it relates to the
anxiety of having to attend a new school because your family moved. Or maybe it's the
move to high school from middle school that excited your nerves. Perhaps your
reminiscence isn't about you, but rather about your son or daughter. Or about you as a
teacher. Of course, these are not normal times and controversy abounds about the time and
manner of schools reopening. Do you have something to say about remote learning or a
hybrid of online and in-person teaching. How might your own life have been different if you
weren't able to socialize in-person at school?
Limited to 5 Participants
When: October 5-31
Where: Online via Email
Cost: RBWG Members; $225; Non-Members $250
Each week day for most of October, a writing prompt will be emailed to you that you will
respond to, sending your replies (between 100-500 words) back to Judy Catterton. Although
she’ll offer very brief responses each day, at the end of the week (Friday) you’ll let her know
which of the five pieces you most like and might want to develop and she’ll offer more
detailed suggestions on this piece. What is great about this “tutorial” is not only that you will
be writing everyday—and accountable to your writing every day—but that the prompts are
truly varied, offering a variety of avenues to explore and opening a door into numerous
possibilities: You might end up writing piece of memoir, or voicing your opinions and views
about an issue, or starting a short story.
For example: this might be a prompt: September is a time when ordinarily our thoughts turn
to school. Maybe the drop in temperature makes us think of new shoes, notebooks or
football. Do you have a story about the opening of the school year? Maybe it relates to the
anxiety of having to attend a new school because your family moved. Or maybe it's the
move to high school from middle school that excited your nerves. Perhaps your
reminiscence isn't about you, but rather about your son or daughter. Or about you as a
teacher. Of course, these are not normal times and controversy abounds about the time and
manner of schools reopening. Do you have something to say about remote learning or a
hybrid of online and in-person teaching. How might your own life have been different if you
weren't able to socialize in-person at school?
Copyright © Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild
