2009-06-08T15:00:00.001-07:00

Science-fiction, Fantasy, Horror & Beyond | Fall 2009

This popular workshop attracts beginners and semiprofessionals alike. Submit short stories, novel excerpts and screenplays for an intensive all-day peer review. Learn the essentials of manuscript preparation and tour potential markets for your work. All genres welcome. Submit materials 2 weeks in advance. Contact CAC for details. Supply fee included. $32

Saturday 11-21-09 9:00AM – 4:00PM 507 W. 7th Ave. - Corbin Art Center
One day only

Saturday, November 21, 2009
9:00am - 4:00pm
Corbin Art Center
507 West Seventh Avenue
Spokane, WA
(509) 625-6200
Instructor: Wayne Spitzer

How to Submit Your Manuscripts for Fall Quarter 2009

In order for this one-day lecture/workshop to work, we’re going to have to put our heads together. Ideally, one would register at least 2 weeks in advance, and then email their manuscript as soon as possible, allowing the instructor and other participants adequate time to read and be prepared to comment. So. Please email your manuscripts at least 2 weeks in advance to: corbincreativewriting@yahoo.com

Hope to see new and familiar faces alike come Fall of 2009. Take care!

http://www.spokaneparks.org/Recreation/CAC.htm

News

The Science-fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writers’ Workshop at Corbin and an attendant class, Getting Published, Read, and (Maybe) Getting Paid, are on hiatus Summer Quarter 2009 while their instructor completes his graduate thesis. They will return Fall Quarter 2009 as Science-fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Beyond—a combination, all-day workshop on Saturday, November 21, 2009. The reason for this is to buy the instructor still more time to complete his thesis, which he’ll defend Winter Quarter 2010. The Science-fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writers’ Workshop and Getting Published, Read, and (Maybe) Getting Paid will continue in their original forms (a 6-week course and an all-day course, respectively) Spring Quarter 2010, if not earlier. Again, thanks so much to everyone who has attended and made these classes a success, and have a great summer!

About the SF/Fantasy and Horror Writing Workshop at Corbin Art Center

A (mostly) serious, supportive environment for writers in the imaginative arena, a place Ray Bradbury called The October Country, “where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist, and the people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain."

A Brief History

A funny thing happened when I first submitted a course description for a writing class at Corbin. Nobody signed up. I had modeled the course description after others I had seen in the catalog, in fact, here it is:

"Be inspired! Share your creative writing with others in this candid, dynamic environment. Receive input and encouragement from yours peers, learn the tricks of the trade, and draw inspiration from the masters. All genres welcome! For novices and intermediaries alike. $5 supply fee included. $60."

‘Be inspired!’ First, I’m pretty sure (now) that that slogan is the same used by Gonzaga University in their promotional materials. Second—it’s not very inspiring. It’s a slight improvement on my first idea (SF/Fantasy and Horror Writers at Corbin: Near Wayne. Near Perfect.). But, alas, it didn’t ring the bell. So it was back to the drawing board.

A little research told me that filling classes offered by the Parks and Recreation Department was harder than it seemed, especially during the Spring. So it was agreed: we’d try again in the Fall. But then what, I wondered? Who would want to take some generic writing class taught by me, anyway? Who in the hell did I think I was, Noam Chomsky? Was I that misguided? Was I on crack?

But then I realized what any teacher realizes from the moment they face a classroom. It wasn’t about me. And this wasn’t a university. This was Spokane Parks and Rec. This was about providing a service by creating an environment—an environment where hard-working people could enjoy some off-time. This was about watering lawns and pruning trees—about creating a communal space—where people would come not just because they wanted to hear their own thoughts, but because they wanted to hear other people too, laughing, splashing, talking. People like themselves.

I then thought about what wasn’t being offered elsewhere, and about my own interests—because this ought to be fun, right? And the answer was clear: science-fiction, fantasy, and horror. And anything else, frankly. But if I called it SF, F & H, then it seemed I would achieve two things: I would get the attention of a host of people not otherwise interested, and I would insure that the class remain inclusive, eclectic, open-minded. In short, I would insure a cool green grass on which people felt inclined to relax, and to write.

My second stab at a course description went like this:

"Science-fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writer’s Workshop

This unique workshop offers a serious, supportive environment for writers in the imaginative arena, a place Ray Bradbury called The October Country, “where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist, and the people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain…” $5 supply fee included. $60."

Oh, that was so much better. And it worked. Fall Quarter 2008 filled to capacity, and Winter/Spring Quarters didn’t do so shabby, either—thanks largely to a near 100% return rate of previous participants, and this in spite of some pretty apocalyptic weather and the worse economic downturn since the Great Depression. I’d say we did pretty good. Mostly it was the enthusiasm of the participants and the quality of their writing, which just got better and better as the quarters passed. One could do worse than to spend some time in a beautiful mansion with talents such as Patricia McAuley, Kevin Penelerick, Mathew Weaver, Diana Nicoletti, Michael Cliff, Elizabeth Vines, Alan Mimms, J.L. Brian, Lani Terrell, Shanti Perez…it’s people like these that give workshop facilitators Photographer’s Guilt, which is to say the art is already there, you just frame it.

So, a big thanks to everyone who attended these classes and made them a success. You rock, every single one of you.

—Wayne

Ministry of Shameless Plugs: Some Random Student Evaluations

On the Class:

“Critiquing and being critiqued is invaluable…Peer scrutiny is a real motivator…So beneficial…I will always seek more training of this type.” (5 out of 5)

“It helped me to figure out the weak parts of my story…It made me think about doing more research to strengthen my work.” (5 out of 5)

“Great ground for learning and exploring writing!” (5 out of 5)

“The experience provided by the workshop and the facilitator advanced my knowledge and understanding of the craft of writing…The comments of the instructor and classmates showed me a different way of looking at my work…I got a lot out of the class and would enjoy more of the same or similar.” (4 out of 5)

“It helped me to focus on the parts I need to work on in my story, things I missed when actually writing it.” (5 out of 5)

“Learned a lot in a comfortable, supportive environment—enjoyable people…Much information shared, techniques discussed…This class left me hungry for more!” (5 out of 5)

On the Instructor: (This is the shameless part)

“[The] writing exercises were great! Wayne is a wonderful facilitator and very knowledgeable, interesting and clever!:) Thanks, Wayne!” (5 out of 5)

“Wayne is knowledgeable and down to earth.” (5 out of 5)

“Very easy to work with: Interested, involved, and caring.” (5 out of 5)

“Look forward to his flavor of running a class again.” (5 out of 5)

“He was great.” (5 out of 5)

“I want more!” (5 out of 5)

Wayne Spitzer's SF/Fantasy and Horror Writing Workshop at Corbin Art Center See you in the Fall...

Alan Mimms [May 25, 2009] I found meeting others who are new to the writing game very stimulating, and meeting others who are EXPERIENCED in the writing game very encouraging - despite some of their insinuations that it's impossible to sell a story. Wayne, your class helped me in many ways.

Wayne Spitzer [May 25, 2009]
Now who would insinuate that? :) Thanks, Alan. I'm tempted to make a joke about techno-porn, but the Internet doesn't do nuance very well. Hope you're still writing, my friend! (Just not at the expense of living, which is a lot more important.)

Alan Mimms [May 25, 2009]

I think a lot of living has been getting in the way of writing, but I am still doing it when I can - some progress, at least.

Alan Mimms [May 25, 2009]

"Near Wayne. Near Perfect." Now where have I heard this before?

Wayne Spitzer [May 25, 2009]

Oh, you know. Above the entrance to the school of Athens. At the entrance to Hades. On the ticker thingy in Times Square....

Mary Goff at [May 26]

Wow cool. I have never taken any creative writing courses...I've graduated high school and that's as far as I've progressed.

Wayne Spitzer [May 27]

Well, your writing is on par with anything I've read in MFA workshops. Creative writing courses can help your work a lot, but they can destroy it, too. I'd say you're doing fine without it.

Mary Goff [May 27]

Wow, thank you!

Wayne Spitzer | Writing | Corbin Art Center