Help Support Writespace
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Writespace is a Houston grassroots literary arts nonprofit whose mission is to embrace and celebrate our city’s diversity by providing the type of high-quality training available through Master of Fine Arts creative writing programs at a fraction of the cost to writers of all genres, with a focus on providing programming for underserved communities and scholarships for low-income writers.
All donations made to Writespace are entirely tax-deductible.
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Our Next Workshop
Writing Fiction: The Magic of Fantasy
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INSTRUCTOR: Mackenzie Bitz
TIME: Saturday, August 6, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, July 31. After Sunday, July 31: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1717 Michigan Street, Houston, TX, 77006 (map) LEVEL: All Levels CAP: 15 Fantasy is everywhere—stories, songs, movies, daydreams. And the most flexible and defining part of the genre is magic. It can appear as energy, as force, as dancing spoons, or even as fireballs thrown at trolls. However it appears, there is something crucial to remember: Magic is also a character in your story. From supernatural to magical realism to high or low fantasy, magic is the necessary part of the fantasy genre that often gets overlooked or underestimated. In this workshop, we will look at the ways magic can be used in multiple types of fantasy and how it plays a vital part in storytelling and world-building. We will cover a variety of stories that feature magic and how it can apply to short and long fiction, as well as glimpse how it is adapted for the screen. Alongside this information, there will be multiple exercises and resources available for students. Imagination is where stories begin, and if you wish to unleash the magic of yours, this is the workshop for you. |
Image by Photo by Rhett Wesley on Unsplash
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View all our upcoming workshops.
Our Next Event
The Submission Room
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TIME: Sunday, August 14, 4–6 p.m. CDT
PRICE: Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. Become a member here. LOCATION: Melange Creperie, 711 Heights Blvd #B Houston TX 77007 (map) You’ve written something and now you want to take the next step and get your writing published. Whether you are looking to submit to literary journals through Submittable or query agents with a book proposal, why not do it in the company of other writers while eating crepes? Goal: To have every participant exit the session with at least 1–5 submissions in Submittable or with a solid plan for where, when, and how to submit in the weeks to follow. Structure: First 30 minutes - This time will be designated for experienced submitters and newbies to air out whatever questions or concerns they have about the submission process. To save time, informative handouts with tips and FAQs will be distributed to those who want them. Before the 30 minutes is up, all participants will have an opportunity to share which genre they are working in and what goal they are working towards, whether it be to actively submit during the session or work on a monthly spreadsheet to better prepare for future submissions. Remaining time - All participants will be asked to work independently and quietly so not to distract other participants from their personal goals. A moderator will be available to answer questions and check-in with participants on a rolling basis to ensure everyone feels confident, knowledgeable, and productive moving forward. |
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Workshop Testimonial
"I hadn’t written poetry in more than 6 months. Not because I didn’t have anything to say—but rather, the opposite: I have too much to say, and not enough time to say it. That’s the beauty of short-form poetry—and I can think of no one better than Dr. Kendra Leonard to be your guide into this world.
If you’re like me—an unpracticed, imperfect poet who doesn’t know anything about the mechanics of sonnets or limericks—it can feel super intimidating to step into a poetry workshop. But Dr. Leonard made me feel anything but intimidated. She is kind, encouraging, and takes a gentle, question-led (rather than feedback-led) approach to workshopping poetry.
What’s truly amazing is that she’s helped me turn short-form poetry into a habit. I’ve written a poem every day since taking her workshop. Often, I don’t have a big block of time to sit down and journal out all my thoughts and feelings. Dr. Leonard’s workshop showed me that I can be just as expressive through short-form poetry, and in a fraction of the time.
I’m really excited to take her workshop on ekphrastic writing."
—Ynes Freeman, on Kendra Preston Leonard's Writing Short: Poetry in the Palm of Your Hand
If you’re like me—an unpracticed, imperfect poet who doesn’t know anything about the mechanics of sonnets or limericks—it can feel super intimidating to step into a poetry workshop. But Dr. Leonard made me feel anything but intimidated. She is kind, encouraging, and takes a gentle, question-led (rather than feedback-led) approach to workshopping poetry.
What’s truly amazing is that she’s helped me turn short-form poetry into a habit. I’ve written a poem every day since taking her workshop. Often, I don’t have a big block of time to sit down and journal out all my thoughts and feelings. Dr. Leonard’s workshop showed me that I can be just as expressive through short-form poetry, and in a fraction of the time.
I’m really excited to take her workshop on ekphrastic writing."
—Ynes Freeman, on Kendra Preston Leonard's Writing Short: Poetry in the Palm of Your Hand
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Writespace is a Houston grassroots literary arts nonprofit whose mission is to embrace and celebrate our city’s diversity by providing the type of high-quality training available through Master of Fine Arts creative writing programs at a fraction of the cost to writers of all genres, with a focus on providing programming for underserved communities and scholarships for low-income writers. All donations made to Writespace are entirely tax-deductible.
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