Thank you for your interest in my online writing workshops, beginning the week of Monday, September 26, 2011. A few things have happened that have led me to offering these sessions. I recently passed up a full-time job as an administrator at the small, private college where I have been teaching English for the past two years.
Originally, I’d said yes. Then over the summer, I started to panic. I knew I wouldn’t have time for
the PIT anymore, where I’ve been teaching writing and solo performance for almost nine years. I knew I wouldn’t have time to write myself. I knew I wouldn’t have much time to spend with my son and husband. Three weeks ago, I went in and told them that I couldn’t take the job after all. I’ll stay at the school as an adjunct professor, but that’s it.
I am telling you all of this because I want to emphasize my aspiration and inclination to
teach. I know there’s that old saying, “those who can’t do, teach.” This has always bothered me, even before I started teaching. Both my parents were teachers, growing up, and I have always admired the profession. The hard work and dedication to others impressed me. There’s that great Hindu proverb: “To learn, read. To know, write. To master, teach.”
I have always, always thought of teaching as a privilege. I
get to teach. When I show up to teach my classes at the PIT, I am thrilled that people have actually signed up and put their trust in what I have to say. I am honored. (shocked?) As a writer myself, teaching is a life raft for me. It’s a way to stay boosted up above the self-doubt and second-guessing that writing and life bring. If I am helping someone else with their stuff, I am helping myself. I know that sounds like AA, but it’s true. I don’t think I teach because I’m a shitty writer and can’t get anywhere with it, I teach because I love it, and I also learn how to write by listening and reading work and offering a life raft to anyone who’s stuck, like me.
After receiving my MFA in Creative Writing, after nine years of teaching writing and solo performance and two years of teaching college English, and with one published novel and many magazine articles under my belt, I think that I can offer insightful feedback to any writer who finds him/herself in any of the following stages of creativity with regard to novels, short stories, memoirs, essays, speeches, etc:
Workshop #1: "Starting Somewhere" Looking for a new project? Perhaps you find yourself at a crossroads in your writing where you just can’t seem to latch onto what’s really inside of you right now, begging to get out. I will help you to get there. Using excellent sourcebooks as inspiration (Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott, Writing Alone and With Others by Pat Schneider, and others), I will keep you going from week to week with writing exercises, prompts, theme ideas and assignments. Ideally by week four or five, you will have found a thread that you’d like to follow, and over the remainder of the workshop, I will offer weekly feedback on your work. After 10 weeks, you will have a rough draft of a new piece. At session’s end, we’ll meet in person or via Skype to discuss where to take the piece now, and address any final questions, thoughts or concerns that you may have.
Workshop #2: "In the Thick of Things" Maybe you’re right in the middle of a piece of work. Sometimes – and this has been majorly true for me – writing can feel so isolating. If you are in this stage, and you’re looking for guidance, I offer you 10 weeks of check-ins, revisions, redirections, and reshapes. You will be held accountable for a certain amount of work per week, and I will offer suggestions after I read your material. We will decide on a day of the week for you to submit material to me and I will take up to two days to read your work and offer comments, giving you a reasonable amount of time to revise. After 10 weeks, you will have completed a first draft, and will have perhaps even begun a second. At session’s end, we’ll meet in person or via Skype to discuss where to take the piece now, and address any final questions, thoughts or concerns that you may have.
Workshop #3: "First Draft" After you’ve taken a break from writing a first draft, it can be helpful to go through and read what you’ve written in its entirety. You’ve had some time off, now it’s time to get back into it with a fresh perspective (we hope). After you’ve read through and made some notes, it can also be helpful to give the manuscript AND your notes/concerns to someone else to take a look at and offer comments/validation/support/questions. I will serve as your editor in the process of writing a second (maybe third) draft. I will accept manuscripts of up to 200 pages. At the beginning of the session, we’ll create a schedule for the 10 weeks that we both feel comfortable with. At session’s end, we’ll meet in person or via Skype to discuss where to take the piece now, and address any final questions, thoughts or concerns that you may have.
Workshop #4: "Editing and Polishing" For me, this phase comes when I’ve gone through a couple of drafts of something and I’m at that stage where it’s all there (I think) and it may just need some finishing touches and another outside eye. Before the submission process (either to publishers, agents, producers, or artistic directors), it will be helpful to have someone read through with a fresh perspective and comment on what’s really working structurally, plot-wise, and character-wise. I will accept manuscripts of up to 200 pages. At the beginning of the session, we’ll work together to create a schedule for the 10 weeks with which we’re both comfortable. At session’s end, we’ll meet in person or via Skype, I’ll tell you everything I know about the submission process, and address any final questions or concerns that you may have about your work.
Workshop structure: Weekly online feedback and interaction with me and other participants who share your focus (i.e. all those who’re in the First Draft workshop will chat online, offering feedback once a week after reading each other’s work).
Cost for workshops: $400 for 10 weeks.
If you’re interested, email
nails.oww@gmail.com to reserve a spot. Please use as your subject heading the title of the workshop in which you’re interested. In the body of your email, tell me briefly about your material (i.e. novel, short story, monologue, etc) and an idea of what you’re looking to get out of the workshop. Sessions begin the week of September 26. I look forward to working together.
Sincerely,
Jen Nails
www.jennails.com nexttomexico.blogspot.comnogalesflowers.blogspot.com suffragetteweekly.blogspot.com
