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Who's Attending
7 people are attending Intro to Creative Writing
In this beginner’s course, you’ll be introduced to fiction, creative nonfiction (i.e., personal essays/memoirs), and poetry. Ben will give you writing prompts to spark your imagination and to draw out stories. In fun and instructive exercises, you’ll explore craft basics such as developing compelling characters and creating believable dialogue.
In addition to doing your own writing, you’ll read excerpts from writers like Kate Braverman, Mary Karr, and Raymond Carver. “Sometimes we’ll read for the gut-level response and later think about why we reacted the way we did,” says Ben. “Other times we’ll focus on an aspect of craft, such as pacing or descriptive language, and think about how to use that in our own writing. Discussions and sharing of your own writing will also be an important part of this class. By the end of the course you’ll have the tools to develop a creative piece in any genre of your choosing.”

Ben Jackson has been the director of The Writing Salon since March 2016. He has taught at a wide range of colleges, schools, and retreat centers, including the University of San Francisco and the Esalen Institute. His writing has appeared in New England Review, Southern Review, Hudson Review, FIELD, Poetry Daily, Prairie Schooner, and elsewhere. A graduate of the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers, he has won awards and fellowships from the Tor House Foundation, Warren Wilson College, Vermont Studio Center, Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, and Jentel Artist Residency Program.
- Tuesday, August 15, 7:00pm-9:30pm
- Tuesday, August 22, 7:00pm-9:30pm
- Tuesday, August 29, 7:00pm-9:30pm
- Tuesday, September 5, 7:00pm-9:30pm
- Tuesday, September 12, 7:00pm-9:30pm