Classes and Workshops
Online via Zoom unless noted below
For over 30 years, I have taught a wide variety of creative writing, composition, and literature classes to adults, children, college students, and incarcerated adults and teens.
I am an encouraging, practical, and inspiring teacher. I currently teach at The Writer's Center, The Writer's Passage, The Loft Literary Center, as well as in in private homes in Maryland and Washington, DC.
I am an encouraging, practical, and inspiring teacher. I currently teach at The Writer's Center, The Writer's Passage, The Loft Literary Center, as well as in in private homes in Maryland and Washington, DC.
Upcoming Offerings
Poetry II: Re-imagining Critique
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, 2021
6 Thursdays on ZOOM, 6:30-9pm ET
SOLD OUT!
Exploring Memoir
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Dec. 11, 2021
Saturday on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Register Now!
Thinking about writing a memoir? Writing a book is a big dream – so it’s important to start out on the right foot. In this class, you’ll get clear about what your memoir is really about. We’ll discuss intentions, optional structures, and goals for the finished project. Participants will leave this class with a clear roadmap for how to proceed. Learn to avoid some dead-end roads, and get practical tips to manage feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated as you set out on this creative journey.
Starting a Writing Project
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
January 24, Feb. 7 and 21, 20211
Every other Monday on ZOOM, 7-9pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Ready to turn all those notes and fragments into something “real”? This class is for writers ready to explore, organize, and start to develop their fragments into a personal essay, short story, or larger book idea (novel, memoir, hybrid, book of poems). We’ll meet every other week ( January 24, Febraury 7, and 21), to give you time to make good headway in between classes. Sessions include practical discussions, small group sessions, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. (Not intended for someone who's already more than halfway through a project.) Bring your calendar to the first session.
Traditional and Contemporary Forms
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
March 3, - April 7, 2022
Six Thursdays on ZOOM, 7-9pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Formal poems require just enough rules to engage your inner word nerd and set your imagination free. We’ll study poems by accomplished poets for inspiration and guidance as we write our own. Build your literary muscles by practicing two traditional forms (the Ghazal and Villanelle), two forms created by American poets (Terrance Hayes’ Golden Shovel and Jericho Brown’s Duplex), and a variety of fun found forms (erasures, lists, abecedarians, instructions). Classes are a mix of instruction, tips, close reading, Q&A, and sharing work (optional, but encouraged). The instructor will offer feedback on a chosen draft; final class focuses on revision.
Submitting Your Work to Literary Magazines
Bay To Ocean Writer's Conference
Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Session Time TBD
Conference Registration opens soon!
Dealing with Distraction
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
March 12 - 26, 2022
Three Saturdays on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Struggling to stay focused on your writing? In this class, led by a certified professional coach, you’ll begin to understand why you get distracted and how to gain more focus and get back on track when you wander. Through in-class writing and group discussions you’ll learn simple tools to battle the root causes of distraction and manage your Inner Critic to keep your butt in the chair and keep writing. Bring your calendar to each session.
Strong Titles
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
April 23, 2022
Saturday on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Titles are one of the most important spots of real estate in a poem, but what makes a good title? How can a title expand the meaning of a poem, and its impact on the reader? In this class, we’ll review the six main kinds of titles and do a powerful exercise to discover stronger titles. Participants should bring 1-2 poems to class that feel close to finished but still need a good title.
Revision as Discovery
Sponsored by Hugo House
April 27 - June 9, 2022
Four Wednesdays on ZOOM, 1-3pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Everyone has poems that get stuck, even though we still care about them. How do we find their heart? Revision is an act of expansion, a chance to deepen your thinking, invite surprise, and strengthen your relationship with your work. Gather at least 3 drafts to work on and join us for a mix of discussion, small group feedback on 1-2 drafts, in-class exercises, and close readings of revisions by published poets. Bring one draft to our first class.
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, 2021
6 Thursdays on ZOOM, 6:30-9pm ET
SOLD OUT!
Exploring Memoir
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Dec. 11, 2021
Saturday on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Register Now!
Thinking about writing a memoir? Writing a book is a big dream – so it’s important to start out on the right foot. In this class, you’ll get clear about what your memoir is really about. We’ll discuss intentions, optional structures, and goals for the finished project. Participants will leave this class with a clear roadmap for how to proceed. Learn to avoid some dead-end roads, and get practical tips to manage feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated as you set out on this creative journey.
Starting a Writing Project
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
January 24, Feb. 7 and 21, 20211
Every other Monday on ZOOM, 7-9pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Ready to turn all those notes and fragments into something “real”? This class is for writers ready to explore, organize, and start to develop their fragments into a personal essay, short story, or larger book idea (novel, memoir, hybrid, book of poems). We’ll meet every other week ( January 24, Febraury 7, and 21), to give you time to make good headway in between classes. Sessions include practical discussions, small group sessions, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. (Not intended for someone who's already more than halfway through a project.) Bring your calendar to the first session.
Traditional and Contemporary Forms
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
March 3, - April 7, 2022
Six Thursdays on ZOOM, 7-9pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Formal poems require just enough rules to engage your inner word nerd and set your imagination free. We’ll study poems by accomplished poets for inspiration and guidance as we write our own. Build your literary muscles by practicing two traditional forms (the Ghazal and Villanelle), two forms created by American poets (Terrance Hayes’ Golden Shovel and Jericho Brown’s Duplex), and a variety of fun found forms (erasures, lists, abecedarians, instructions). Classes are a mix of instruction, tips, close reading, Q&A, and sharing work (optional, but encouraged). The instructor will offer feedback on a chosen draft; final class focuses on revision.
Submitting Your Work to Literary Magazines
Bay To Ocean Writer's Conference
Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Session Time TBD
Conference Registration opens soon!
Dealing with Distraction
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
March 12 - 26, 2022
Three Saturdays on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Struggling to stay focused on your writing? In this class, led by a certified professional coach, you’ll begin to understand why you get distracted and how to gain more focus and get back on track when you wander. Through in-class writing and group discussions you’ll learn simple tools to battle the root causes of distraction and manage your Inner Critic to keep your butt in the chair and keep writing. Bring your calendar to each session.
Strong Titles
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
April 23, 2022
Saturday on ZOOM, 1-4pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Titles are one of the most important spots of real estate in a poem, but what makes a good title? How can a title expand the meaning of a poem, and its impact on the reader? In this class, we’ll review the six main kinds of titles and do a powerful exercise to discover stronger titles. Participants should bring 1-2 poems to class that feel close to finished but still need a good title.
Revision as Discovery
Sponsored by Hugo House
April 27 - June 9, 2022
Four Wednesdays on ZOOM, 1-3pm ET
Registration opens soon!
Everyone has poems that get stuck, even though we still care about them. How do we find their heart? Revision is an act of expansion, a chance to deepen your thinking, invite surprise, and strengthen your relationship with your work. Gather at least 3 drafts to work on and join us for a mix of discussion, small group feedback on 1-2 drafts, in-class exercises, and close readings of revisions by published poets. Bring one draft to our first class.
Recent Offerings
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Building a Poetry Chapbook
From participants: "Your class has been tremendously insightful to me and helped me think of my work differently already." "Thank you for the well structured and insightful course." Traditional & Contemporary Poetic Forms
From a participant: "Thank you for the reminder to be OK with being messy and imperfect. What kind and generous words you gave us this morning. I'll take them to heart." |
Writing for Procrastinators
From participants: "You are a fantastic instructor! You are very creative in pulling the class together with small discussions and what not. And, I love the reading assignments." "I appreciate your judgment-free class." "Your course has helped me to get started with my writing again, every day, and revitalized my passion for my book. I'm very grateful for what you've given us." Submit Your Stuff to Literary Magazines
From participants: "That was a very helpful session! I learned a lot. Thank you" "Your class on submitting work was really, really great. I've taken a class in submitting work a few years ago and I have to say, yours was much more thorough." |
Reviving Stuck Poems
From a participant: "Your workshop yesterday was fantastic. It has really opened up my thinking about the poems I revised during the session. A new direction in one and a connection I hadn't totally grasped in the other. I plan to use the activities in the future. Thank you for giving me these most helpful tools. I feel liberated." Create a Writing Routine That Works
From participants: "The handouts were very helpful as takeaways from the class, and Melanie was super awesome." "Practical information that I can implement." "The pacing of class was perfect." |
Praise
- "Thank you for your class on Submitting Your Poems. I followed your excellent advice and voila! I had 3 poems accepted. This is my first publication in over 10 years. Now I'm ready to keep trying to get my work out into the world - all thanks to you."
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- "Melanie is a treasure—a quirky, committed, talented treasure. She was/is as good or better than anyone I had at my Ivy League university. Most notable, she cares.”
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