In this 6-week workshop, you’ll have fun finding your writing voices. You’ll dive into craft elements that all writers depend on to tell stories. You’ll play around with writing. You’ll give and receive positive feedback. And you’ll experience what it’s like to be in a community of writers. (It’s awesome.) The workshop will explore Point of View, Plot Arc, Dialogue, Character, and Conflict through a combination of a mini-lesson, discussion, writing prompts, and positive feedback.

 

This workshop is for beginning and experienced writers who:

• Want to express themselves freely and in a supportive environment.
• Want to learn more about the craft of writing.
• Want to connect with new friends with similar questions and desires.
• Feel ready (though maybe a little nervous) to share their writing in a group.

You can expect to leave the workshop with:

• An understanding of the foundational elements of creative writing.
• A deep sense of your writing voice and your unique gifts as a writer.
• The experience of an active writing community.
• Playful access to your writing.
• The ability to hear what’s working in other people’s writing.
• Creative courage.

This workshop won’t give you:

• Critique or competition. 
• Strict rules about “how to write.” 
• Pressure to write things you don’t want to write.
• Homework.

Weekly plan:

• Week One: Introduction
• Week Two: Character
• Week Three: Point of View
• Week Four: Dialogue
• Week Five: Plot Arc
• Week Six: Conflict

Details:

• Dates: March 11, March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15
• Day: Monday
• Time: 5:30-7:30pm
• Place: Richmond Free Library (3rd floor)
• Cost: $240

When you sign up, you'll be asked for a $140 deposit to confirm your spot—the balance of $100 will be due at the first class. If price is a barrier, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Who we are:

 Tamara Ellis Smith is a children’s book author who writes middle grade fiction and picture books. Her novel Another Kind of Hurricane was a Vermont Book Award finalist, and her picture books Here and There and Grief is an Elephant are used in classrooms and libraries as resources for kids exploring and dealing with tough life issues. Tam is a graduate of New York University’s Playwriting MFA program, as well as Vermont College of Fine Arts’ Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program and teaches creative writing as a visiting artist in public schools. She lives in Richmond, Vermont, just around the corner from KT. 

KT Mather is a young adult author and educator. Her debut novel Rage Is a Wolf was called, "a work of unusual depth and ambition," in a Kirkus starred review and the Los Angeles Review of Books said Rage, “asks us to reimagine the very premise of the prototypical 'strong female lead.'" KT taught middle and high school English for 13 years with a focus on centering student’s writing and voices. She is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program. She also earned a Masters of Humanities from the University of Chicago. She was lured to Richmond, VT by her former Vermont College of Fine Arts roommate Tam Smith and they live a 3 minute walk from one another.

Ready to take the leap?

To sign up or ask questions about the workshop, please email tam@tamaraellissmith.com. Include your name, grade, and email. Please use this Venmo link or QR code below for the deposit.