RBWG Summer 2022 Classes
In Person and Online
Weekly Calendar
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Register Here Please register first with Maribeth at fischer.maribeth@gmail.com to make sure that the class is running (at times we do not have enough participants to make the class work) or is not already filled. Maribeth will respond to you within a day. Pay Here 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 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. Please do not pay prior to hearing from Maribeth that the class is running and a seat is available. We are unable to make full refunds if payment is received without confirmation from Maribeth first.
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Our Instructors
Click here to read brief biographies for each of our instructors.
Special Writing Challeng
Jumpstart June: A Ten-Day Writing Challenge--Maribeth Fischer
When: June 6-10 and June 13-17
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $50; Non-Members $60
What I have written must tell me what to write next. —William Gass
For ten days (we’ll skip weekends), our challenge will be to write 500 words a day, starting our summer with a whopping 5,000 words.
There are times when the most important thing we can do as writers is to get words on the page. Stop fussing, stop editing, stop agonizing over word choice. Just write. Create character sketches, describe landscapes, write a detailed outline of the entire memoir or story or essay or novel. Write the poem without line breaks. Make a list of scenes, then force yourself to pick one and dive in. It’s a fallacy to think you must have it all figured out in order to begin. You don’t.
Each morning, those who accept this challenge will get a short email offering inspiration, maybe a few suggestions (that there’s no obligation to use).
Each night, participants will email Maribeth one thing: the number of words they wrote. There’s no critique or praise, no sharing of work, just a community of writers all vowing to make writing a priority for these two weeks. At the end of week one, we’ll tally how many writers succeeded in meeting the challenge (but no names; no shame if you missed a day or came up short. All that matters is that you commit to try). We’ll do the same at the end of week two, at which point I’ll ask each writer to send me 200 words they wrote during this challenge that they love (this, too, is optional). I’ll share those examples with the group as a way to celebrate our accomplishment and get to know each other a little bit through our writing.
When: June 6-10 and June 13-17
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $50; Non-Members $60
What I have written must tell me what to write next. —William Gass
For ten days (we’ll skip weekends), our challenge will be to write 500 words a day, starting our summer with a whopping 5,000 words.
There are times when the most important thing we can do as writers is to get words on the page. Stop fussing, stop editing, stop agonizing over word choice. Just write. Create character sketches, describe landscapes, write a detailed outline of the entire memoir or story or essay or novel. Write the poem without line breaks. Make a list of scenes, then force yourself to pick one and dive in. It’s a fallacy to think you must have it all figured out in order to begin. You don’t.
Each morning, those who accept this challenge will get a short email offering inspiration, maybe a few suggestions (that there’s no obligation to use).
Each night, participants will email Maribeth one thing: the number of words they wrote. There’s no critique or praise, no sharing of work, just a community of writers all vowing to make writing a priority for these two weeks. At the end of week one, we’ll tally how many writers succeeded in meeting the challenge (but no names; no shame if you missed a day or came up short. All that matters is that you commit to try). We’ll do the same at the end of week two, at which point I’ll ask each writer to send me 200 words they wrote during this challenge that they love (this, too, is optional). I’ll share those examples with the group as a way to celebrate our accomplishment and get to know each other a little bit through our writing.
Fiction
Driving a Car at Night II: Assignments in Fiction 8 Sessions--Maribeth Fischer
When: Thursdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 9,* 23, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 28; Aug. 4.
*All classes but first one (June 9) in person.
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach (Online version available, see below)
Cost: RBWG Members $400; Non-Members $450
(Writing is)... like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
—E.L. Doctorow
This is a class for writers who have taken Graduate School in a Box (which introduces key concepts in fiction writing) and want to continue learning new techniques in fiction. It’s also a class for writers who have embarked on a novel or short story and find themselves stuck, not sure where to go next. Each week, writers will be given an assignment (with examples from works of contemporary fiction). Some assignments will help with structuring the story; others will develop content. One assignment might ask you to use the techniques of flashforward (structure), another might ask you to write a scene where your character is dealing with money—having it, not having it, wanting it (content); yet another assignment will ask you to incorporate social media into the story (structure and content). Each assignment helps the writer discover new aspects of her story. Many of the Guild’s published writers have incorporated these assignments into their finished novels and stories—and we’ll look at a few of those examples too. (You don’t need to have taken “Driving I”). For those not able to attend in-person meetings, an online version (one-on-one tutorial is available)
When: Thursdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 9,* 23, 30; July 7, 14, 21, 28; Aug. 4.
*All classes but first one (June 9) in person.
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach (Online version available, see below)
Cost: RBWG Members $400; Non-Members $450
(Writing is)... like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
—E.L. Doctorow
This is a class for writers who have taken Graduate School in a Box (which introduces key concepts in fiction writing) and want to continue learning new techniques in fiction. It’s also a class for writers who have embarked on a novel or short story and find themselves stuck, not sure where to go next. Each week, writers will be given an assignment (with examples from works of contemporary fiction). Some assignments will help with structuring the story; others will develop content. One assignment might ask you to use the techniques of flashforward (structure), another might ask you to write a scene where your character is dealing with money—having it, not having it, wanting it (content); yet another assignment will ask you to incorporate social media into the story (structure and content). Each assignment helps the writer discover new aspects of her story. Many of the Guild’s published writers have incorporated these assignments into their finished novels and stories—and we’ll look at a few of those examples too. (You don’t need to have taken “Driving I”). For those not able to attend in-person meetings, an online version (one-on-one tutorial is available)
Multigenre
Humor Writing for Fun (and Maybe Even Profit!) 6 Sessions—Elise Seyfried
When: Wednesday, July 13, 20, 27; August 3, 10, 17*
(*For those who’d like to meet in person we will try to have this option for our last class)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $300; Non-Members $350
Comedy writing is taking the brief thought and going with it—Chris O’Dowd
It’s hard to imagine a recent time when the world needed to laugh more. Comedy specials and humor websites are attracting more viewers than ever before. Maybe you’ve been told you have a good sense of humor, and you (from time to time) even think you ARE funny. Here’s your chance to build up those comedy muscles, and perhaps even get your humor published!
For six weeks, we’ll explore the nuts and bolts of humor writing. We’ll come up with original pitches, and turn some of those pitches into comedy pieces. The goal is to submit a piece to a humor site (even The New Yorker! Why not? Aim high!) We’re not writing a 500 page novel; instead, we’re polishing short comic gems. Let’s corral those brief, funny thoughts and go for a wild ride!
When: Wednesday, July 13, 20, 27; August 3, 10, 17*
(*For those who’d like to meet in person we will try to have this option for our last class)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $300; Non-Members $350
Comedy writing is taking the brief thought and going with it—Chris O’Dowd
It’s hard to imagine a recent time when the world needed to laugh more. Comedy specials and humor websites are attracting more viewers than ever before. Maybe you’ve been told you have a good sense of humor, and you (from time to time) even think you ARE funny. Here’s your chance to build up those comedy muscles, and perhaps even get your humor published!
For six weeks, we’ll explore the nuts and bolts of humor writing. We’ll come up with original pitches, and turn some of those pitches into comedy pieces. The goal is to submit a piece to a humor site (even The New Yorker! Why not? Aim high!) We’re not writing a 500 page novel; instead, we’re polishing short comic gems. Let’s corral those brief, funny thoughts and go for a wild ride!
Nonfiction
Your Life in Postcards 5 Sessions—Ethan Joella
When: Mondays, June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 6*
(*Extra days to complete final assignment because of the holiday)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $250; Non-Members $300
There are no live meetings for this class; new work is given to you every Monday, and weekly assignments are due the following Sunday.
A postcard, though tiny, is just enough room to tell a good story about your life. This class will focus on brief creative nonfiction, a riveting form that gets it done in 750 words or less. With short weekly exercises and one project you will develop, this class will help you to see the power of brevity and the richness of small moments.
Writing as "The Other": Sharing Our Stories of Personal Differences and Challenges
4 Sessions—Elise Seyfried
When: Wednesdays, June 22, 29; July 6, 13*
(*For those who’d like to meet in person we will try to have this option for our last class)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $200; Non-Members $250
Many of us live with physical/mental health issues, gender or other identities that may label us as "different" in some way. There is often misunderstanding and stigma around these differences. In this class, we'll explore personal differences and challenges (for example, I often write about my bipolar disorder). We'll learn to use creative writing as a powerful way to relate to our readers, and lead to greater understanding and connection.
Writing the Essential 6 Sessions—Maribeth Fischer
When: Mondays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 27; July 11, 18, 25; August 1, 8
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach
Cost: RBWG Members $300; Non-Members $350
How late I learned the essential things in life! In my childhood, I led the life of a sage, and it was only later, when I was older, that I began to climb trees.—Isaac Babel
Who are we? How will we want to be remembered? What do we cherish? And how can we write about such BIG issues without lapsing into sentimentality, into cliché? In this six-week course we’ll write five short pieces that force us to first dig deep, then find a way to capture in beautiful prose something essential about ourselves. Keep in mind that we won’t be discussing these BIG issues except in terms of the writing: the use of the detail or long sentences to evoke emotion, the use of fragments for similar to do the same. During our six weeks, we’ll answer a “Proust Questionnaire,” write a list essay about what we cherish, write an essay composed of questions it’s too late to ask, even write our obituary, drilling down on those things for which we most want to be remembered. This is a workshop, so participants must be willing not only to share their work but to offer comments on the work of others.
When: Mondays, June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 6*
(*Extra days to complete final assignment because of the holiday)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $250; Non-Members $300
There are no live meetings for this class; new work is given to you every Monday, and weekly assignments are due the following Sunday.
A postcard, though tiny, is just enough room to tell a good story about your life. This class will focus on brief creative nonfiction, a riveting form that gets it done in 750 words or less. With short weekly exercises and one project you will develop, this class will help you to see the power of brevity and the richness of small moments.
Writing as "The Other": Sharing Our Stories of Personal Differences and Challenges
4 Sessions—Elise Seyfried
When: Wednesdays, June 22, 29; July 6, 13*
(*For those who’d like to meet in person we will try to have this option for our last class)
Where: Online
Cost: RBWG Members $200; Non-Members $250
Many of us live with physical/mental health issues, gender or other identities that may label us as "different" in some way. There is often misunderstanding and stigma around these differences. In this class, we'll explore personal differences and challenges (for example, I often write about my bipolar disorder). We'll learn to use creative writing as a powerful way to relate to our readers, and lead to greater understanding and connection.
Writing the Essential 6 Sessions—Maribeth Fischer
When: Mondays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 27; July 11, 18, 25; August 1, 8
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach
Cost: RBWG Members $300; Non-Members $350
How late I learned the essential things in life! In my childhood, I led the life of a sage, and it was only later, when I was older, that I began to climb trees.—Isaac Babel
Who are we? How will we want to be remembered? What do we cherish? And how can we write about such BIG issues without lapsing into sentimentality, into cliché? In this six-week course we’ll write five short pieces that force us to first dig deep, then find a way to capture in beautiful prose something essential about ourselves. Keep in mind that we won’t be discussing these BIG issues except in terms of the writing: the use of the detail or long sentences to evoke emotion, the use of fragments for similar to do the same. During our six weeks, we’ll answer a “Proust Questionnaire,” write a list essay about what we cherish, write an essay composed of questions it’s too late to ask, even write our obituary, drilling down on those things for which we most want to be remembered. This is a workshop, so participants must be willing not only to share their work but to offer comments on the work of others.
Poetry
The Importance of Form II: Writing Form Poems 5 Sessions—Gail Comorat
When: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 14, 21, 28; July 5, 12
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach
Cost: RBWG Members $250; Non-Members $300
The more emotional the content, the greater the need for form to stabilize it.--Billy Collins
Have you ever begun a poem and wound up abandoning it? Sometimes, when we try to control what we want to say in a poem, we feel that the poem isn’t doing the work we want it to do. Turning to poetic forms can help us make sense of experiences that have disturbed us or ones we don’t fully understand. Through writing poems with strict rules, we no longer try to control the poem and its journey. Form poems can guide our writing and help us to tell the stories that we’ve been trying to write.
In this class we’ll read examples and write our own versions of Sestinas, Centos, Golden Shovels, and a brand-new form. We’ll follow rules as we play with language and repetition. We’ll focus on content and substance while we write, but because we will be inexperienced with these forms, we’re going to give ourselves permission to write bad poems as we learn more about ourselves as writers. Let’s meet in person and talk about poetry together again!
When: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. June 14, 21, 28; July 5, 12
Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach
Cost: RBWG Members $250; Non-Members $300
The more emotional the content, the greater the need for form to stabilize it.--Billy Collins
Have you ever begun a poem and wound up abandoning it? Sometimes, when we try to control what we want to say in a poem, we feel that the poem isn’t doing the work we want it to do. Turning to poetic forms can help us make sense of experiences that have disturbed us or ones we don’t fully understand. Through writing poems with strict rules, we no longer try to control the poem and its journey. Form poems can guide our writing and help us to tell the stories that we’ve been trying to write.
In this class we’ll read examples and write our own versions of Sestinas, Centos, Golden Shovels, and a brand-new form. We’ll follow rules as we play with language and repetition. We’ll focus on content and substance while we write, but because we will be inexperienced with these forms, we’re going to give ourselves permission to write bad poems as we learn more about ourselves as writers. Let’s meet in person and talk about poetry together again!
Copyright © Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild
