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- Registration closes 3 hours before start time or when workshop fills. No walk-ins, please.
- Please read our workshop policies before registering.
- Can't attend without a scholarship? Apply here.
October Workshops
Creating a Zine
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INSTRUCTOR: Angélique Jamail
TIME: Four Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22 6:30–8:30 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Wednesday, September 25. After Wednesday, September 25: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All level CAP: 15 Have you been looking for a way to share your short writings, including those you’ve created in other Writespace workshops? The subversive, underground art form of the “zine” (short for fanzine) has been the literary world’s best-kept secret for nearly a century. From its roots in science fiction and fantasy to its established presence in the modern world as a place for art, poetry, and politics, these informal magazines are the ultimate adventure in self-publishing. And best of all, zines are for everyone, every interest, every ability level, and every subject! You don’t have to be a great or experienced artist. Come explore the wide and diverse world of zines through creative writing, art, and craft with award-winning published author Angélique Jamail, the creator of the popular zine Sonic Chihuahua. In this course, you will create your own zine filled with whatever your imagination will allow! This class is appropriate for all skill levels. In November, attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Zine Fest Houston, a welcoming mainstay of the zine community. |
Photo by Leslie Archibald
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Poetry in the Real World
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INSTRUCTOR: Melissa Huckabay
TIME: Saturday, October 5, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, September 29. After Sunday, September 29: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Did you know that poetry is everywhere? It’s in music, in nature, even on a bustling city street. All we need to do is pay attention, listen closely, and be present to find it. In this generative poetry workshop, we will consider examples of everyday poetry, look at the work of poets skilled in capturing the poetry of everyday things, and through helpful prompts and exercises, write our own poems inspired by real-world beauty. By workshop’s end, you will have two or more new poem drafts and more ideas on how to find poetry in your daily life. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Liam Seskis on Unsplash
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Writing Memoir to Understand your Family
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INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Mayorca
TIME: Four Sundays, October 6, 13, 20 & 27, 10am - 1pm CST/CDT Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, September 30. After September 30: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: (Hybrid) Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street #125 & Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 How do memoirists keep their voices distinct while honoring the voice of family members? Through the use of interviews, dialogue, letters, speculation, invention, and memory, we will look at how authors bring their family members to life on the page. We will read from memoirs by Kao Kalia Yang, James McBride, Kat Chow, Maya Shanbhag Lang, Marcelo Hernandez-Castillo, Laura Davis, Laraine Herring, Jeanette Walls and more. Come with photos or mementos of the member(s) of your family you wish to write about. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Cheryl Winn-Boujnida on Unsplash
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Reading Your Poetry and Micro Fiction Aloud
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INSTRUCTOR: Katherine McDaniel TIME: Saturday, October 12, 9:30 - 12:30 p.m. CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, October 6. After Sunday, October 6: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Do you dread reading your poetry or micro-fiction aloud? Do you wish you could present your work in a more exciting or professional manner? In this workshop, we will build skills through fun, playful exercises, much like actors and singers do. We will look at elements of resonance and projection, body management and body language, strategies for nerves and presentation, and use of pauses and tempo. Then participants will read their work for a short coaching session. The goal is to enjoy and improve our reading experience. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on Unsplash
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Renew Your Love of Writing: Spooky Edition
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INSTRUCTOR: Kendra Preston Leonard, PhD
TIME: Saturday, October 12, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, October 6. After Sunday, October 6: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 It's October--time for re-reading your favorite ghost stories or re-watching your favorite horror flick! In this Gentle Generative poetry workshop, we'll celebrate jump scares and final girls, banshees and hitch-hiking ghosts in poems of all kinds, forms, and lengths. Using visual (but not gory), musical (there's a 50% chance we'll be writing about the Monster Mash), and folkloric (Have you seen the Marfa Lights?) prompts, we'll create some new poetry and spark new ideas for for your writing. Costumes (and pet costumes) optional but highly encouraged. All genres and levels of writers welcome! This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Sašo Tušar on Unsplash
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Unlocking Creativity: Using AI to Enhance Your Writing Practice
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INSTRUCTOR: Icess Fernandez Rojas
TIME: Saturday, October 26, 1-4p CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, October 20. After Sunday, October 20: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Are you a beginning writer seeking to enhance your creative process and streamline your workflow? This class is designed to bridge the gap in your writer's toolbox by introducing AI's powerful capabilities and demonstrating how it can be integrated into your writing practice. This workshop will include a comprehensive blend of interactive exercises, practical demonstrations, and discussions. We will review an overview of AI's role in the writing industry, exploring its potential applications and limitations. Participants will then engage in hands-on activities, learning to use various AI tools for generating ideas, outlining stories, and enhancing their prose. By the end of this workshop, participants will possess a robust understanding of how to incorporate AI into their writing processes. They will acquire practical skills such as using AI for brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Each participant will also receive a curated list of AI tools tailored to different aspects of writing, from idea generation to final edits. This workshop is ideal for writers eager to explore innovative tools and techniques to enhance their creativity and productivity. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash
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