Classes and Workshops
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For 35 years, I've 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 love watching students get that "aha moment" as they discover something gorgeous in a poem we are studying, or as they see a way to revise their work and more fully realize their vision for the reader. I have received awards for Excellence in Teaching from The Loft Literary Center, the University of Utah, and the Jerome Foundation. I currently teach at a variety of literary arts centers across the country - as well as at regional book festivals and conferences and in private homes in the Washington, DC area. |
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Upcoming Fall and Winter Classes
Starting a Large Writing Project - ONLINE
Sponsored by The Loft Literary Center
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 on ZOOM, 9am-1pm CT/10am-2pm ET
Register now!
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 large writing project or book (novel, memoir, poem or essay collection, hybrid). Let's have 2023 be the year you get a complete draft done! Participants will begin to organize their stuff, their mindset, and their time. They will set realistic project goals for a clear map forward and know ways to address potential roadblocks along the way. Time to get on the road and get this done! Class will be a mix of practical discussion and helpful tips, Q&A, small group sessions, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. We'll explore how to manage overwhelm, and learn how to build a sustainable writing routine and stay in action, and to rein in our inner critics that hold us back.
Sponsored by The Loft Literary Center
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 on ZOOM, 9am-1pm CT/10am-2pm ET
Register now!
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 large writing project or book (novel, memoir, poem or essay collection, hybrid). Let's have 2023 be the year you get a complete draft done! Participants will begin to organize their stuff, their mindset, and their time. They will set realistic project goals for a clear map forward and know ways to address potential roadblocks along the way. Time to get on the road and get this done! Class will be a mix of practical discussion and helpful tips, Q&A, small group sessions, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. We'll explore how to manage overwhelm, and learn how to build a sustainable writing routine and stay in action, and to rein in our inner critics that hold us back.
Publishing in Literary Magazines - ONLINE
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday on ZOOM, Dec. 17, 2022; 1-3pm ET
Register now!
Ready to submit your stuff (short fiction, poetry, personal essays, hybrids) to literary magazines, or improve your acceptance rate? In this workshop with writer and editor Melanie Figg (she’s judged writing contests, worked at Quarterly West, Graywolf Press, and others), you’ll learn how to professionally present yourself and your work to online and print literary magazines. You’ll also learn what makes effective cover letters and biographies, how to find magazines that are a good fit for your work, how to combat rejection, and other helpful tips. There will be lots of time for questions.
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday on ZOOM, Dec. 17, 2022; 1-3pm ET
Register now!
Ready to submit your stuff (short fiction, poetry, personal essays, hybrids) to literary magazines, or improve your acceptance rate? In this workshop with writer and editor Melanie Figg (she’s judged writing contests, worked at Quarterly West, Graywolf Press, and others), you’ll learn how to professionally present yourself and your work to online and print literary magazines. You’ll also learn what makes effective cover letters and biographies, how to find magazines that are a good fit for your work, how to combat rejection, and other helpful tips. There will be lots of time for questions.
Expanding the Elegy: Reading & Writing from Victoria Chang's OBIT - ONLINE
Sponsored by Hugo House
4 Thursdays: Feb. 23, March 2, 16 & 23, 2023
5-7pm PT/8-10pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
Explore the elegy by studying Victoria Chang’s powerful collection, OBIT, in which she reinvents the newspaper obituary to capture the full scope of loss. We’ll discuss the book as a whole, read it front to back, and spend concentrated time on individual poems offered as prompts as we find new ways to write about and express loss. Each class begins with sharing our work aloud, but this is not a workshop. Read the first 19 pages before our first class.
Sponsored by Hugo House
4 Thursdays: Feb. 23, March 2, 16 & 23, 2023
5-7pm PT/8-10pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
Explore the elegy by studying Victoria Chang’s powerful collection, OBIT, in which she reinvents the newspaper obituary to capture the full scope of loss. We’ll discuss the book as a whole, read it front to back, and spend concentrated time on individual poems offered as prompts as we find new ways to write about and express loss. Each class begins with sharing our work aloud, but this is not a workshop. Read the first 19 pages before our first class.
Create a Writing Routine that Works for You - ONLINE
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, March 18, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
Want to reach a writing goal or add more creativity to your life? Join us to learn practical ways to build a sustainable writing practice that works for you. We’ll discuss obstacles, common pitfalls, and myths that hold us back. Class is a mix of writing exercises, small groups, lecture, and discussion/Q&A. You’ll leave with a renewed commitment to your work, lots of tips and strategies, and a strong plan to put in place. Bring your calendar to class!
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, March 18, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
Want to reach a writing goal or add more creativity to your life? Join us to learn practical ways to build a sustainable writing practice that works for you. We’ll discuss obstacles, common pitfalls, and myths that hold us back. Class is a mix of writing exercises, small groups, lecture, and discussion/Q&A. You’ll leave with a renewed commitment to your work, lots of tips and strategies, and a strong plan to put in place. Bring your calendar to class!
Villanelles! - ONLINE
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, April 22, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
With form, poets not only build stronger technical skills, they also discover new habits that can help their writing process in general. Whether you’ve never written a villanelle, or want to improve your skills, join us. We’ll read some great examples, and discuss what topics are the best fit for this form. Then you’ll begin to write your own. We’ll look at the craft elements of the villanelle: rhyme, repetition, line breaks and enjambement, and building narrative through repetition, and discuss revision tips.
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, April 22, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens Dec. 13 (Dec. 6 for members)
With form, poets not only build stronger technical skills, they also discover new habits that can help their writing process in general. Whether you’ve never written a villanelle, or want to improve your skills, join us. We’ll read some great examples, and discuss what topics are the best fit for this form. Then you’ll begin to write your own. We’ll look at the craft elements of the villanelle: rhyme, repetition, line breaks and enjambement, and building narrative through repetition, and discuss revision tips.
Feedback from Recent Participants
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Poetry II: Re-imagining Critique
"Thank you for leading a great workshop. It has helped me be a better reader for others and a better judge of what feedback I would like for my work." Building a Poetry Chapbook
"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 "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." |
Revision as Discovery
"I'm looking at revision in a whole new way. The exercises you shared are a game-changer for me!" Writing for Procrastinators
"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." Exploring Memoir
"Thank you for this class! Very motivating!" "Many thanks -- very helpful!" " Great class!" Submit Your Stuff to Literary Magazines
"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
"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
"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." Strong Poetry Titles
"Thank you for this workshop. You’ve given me great ideas for revision and I appreciate your worksheets; very useful and helpful!" |
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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