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 Classes
Villanelles! - ONLINE
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, April 22, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Register now!
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
Register now!
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.
Start a Big Writing Project - ONLINE
Sponsored by The Loft Literary Center
Saturday, June 24, 2023
9am-noon CT / 10am-1pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens soon!
Ready to turn all those notes into something “real”? This class is for writers ready to start their large writing project idea (novel, memoir, book of stories, poems or essays). Class includes practical discussion and tips, small groups, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. In this class, 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!
Sponsored by The Loft Literary Center
Saturday, June 24, 2023
9am-noon CT / 10am-1pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens soon!
Ready to turn all those notes into something “real”? This class is for writers ready to start their large writing project idea (novel, memoir, book of stories, poems or essays). Class includes practical discussion and tips, small groups, and in-class exercises designed to offer clarity, direction, and inspiration. In this class, 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!
Line Breaks: Tools of Musical Notation - ONLINE
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, July 22, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens soon!
Join us to learn how line breaks create and affect the melody of the poem—and are a tool for building a musical score. You'll learn how line breaks can direct your poem's pace, energy, and meaning. Through in-class exercises and discussion, you’ll not only start to notice your own habits with the line, but you’ll discover new options of where to break the line. Bring a free verse poem (14+ lines) you wrote that could benefit from stronger line breaks.
Sponsored by Hugo House
Saturday, July 22, 2023
10am-1pm PT / 1-4pm ET on ZOOM
Registration opens soon!
Join us to learn how line breaks create and affect the melody of the poem—and are a tool for building a musical score. You'll learn how line breaks can direct your poem's pace, energy, and meaning. Through in-class exercises and discussion, you’ll not only start to notice your own habits with the line, but you’ll discover new options of where to break the line. Bring a free verse poem (14+ lines) you wrote that could benefit from stronger line breaks.
Feedback from Recent Participants
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Starting a Large Writing Project
"So useful and encouraging! The principles you covered are going to stay with me!" 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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