Kathy Garlick: Daily Write “Round Robin”

April 2 – May 28
8 weeks of daily online activity (facilitated by Kathy)
Plus in-person final meeting
Sunday, May 28, Noon-2pm (optional)
$225 members/$245 non-members

“The more you use your writing muscles,” said Jane Underwood, founder of The Writing Salon and creator of Round Robin, “the more you tone and strengthen them. In the Round Robin, you practice writing every day, just as piano students practice scales and swimmers do laps. The only difference is that the Round Robin is more fun.”

Jane had a unique vision when she developed the Round Robin class. By combining several elements–partnering, repetition, practice, feedback, and dedication—she created not just a writing course, but an actual community, one that has continued and grown for over a decade.

This class is structured around a carefully facilitated exchange of daily emailed writings based on prompts provided by the facilitator and the participants.

Round Robin’ers aim to do four things:
1) Write regularly.
2) Enjoy and explore the process of writing freely and playfully.
3) “Partner” on a rotating basis with classmates.
4) Provide positive feedback in order to encourage one another and create community.

We might cover some basic elements of craft in our daily exchanges, but the main focus will be on finding the inspiration, motivation, and self-discipline to keep writing and generating raw material that you may eventually choose to rewrite, revise, polish, and publish. It will also be about learning to recognize and appreciate the strength of your natural voice, before you have a chance to snuff it out by revising your work too hastily.

Writers in all genres and at all levels of experience take this class. Beginners use it to get started.  Seasoned writers participate in order to stave off writer’s block and to produce new material.  Many participants return session after session in order to keep their writing practice going.

NOTE  Every student must commit to full participation on a daily basis. Time required: 20 to 30 minutes each day, on average. If you are unable to honor your daily commitment to your writing partners, you cannot continue in the class. (Substitutes are available on a limited basis in case of an emergency.)

The final in-person meeting/party is optional but highly recommended. It will be an opportunity to meet your partners and revel in the community. You will be asked to bring something to read aloud to your fellow classmates.

Kathy Garlick’s poetry and prose have appeared in Art and Ideas, Fourteen Hills, Field, and other publications. Her chapbook of poems, The Listening World, was published by Momotombo Press at St. Mary’s College. Kathy currently teaches creative writing and academic writing at University of San Francisco and creative writing and literature in the English Master’s program at Holy Names University.