Lots of activities shut down for June, July, and August, opening your schedule to study with experts and learn how to solve some particular writing problems–even your fear of writing.
One place you might start is at your public library. When I visited Orlando last week, I picked up an Orange County Library System magazine, where I found five summer writing opportunities offered by that library system:
Write a novel this summer—A published author teaches “character development, plot, creating conflict, point of view, dialog, setting [and] voice.”
Writing backstory in fiction—An author-editor teaches you how to include cultural nuances and family histories “without losing the flow of the story they’re telling.”
World-building for fantasy—Another author shows how to create “believable and compelling worlds for your characters.”
First page workshop—A literary agent shows how “to polish your first page until it shines.”
Story development—A screenwriter / author explores how to come up with a good story idea.
I looked up the NYC library online, and I found it offers 19 classes on how to write during this summer, available at various branches.
My own public library system, in Gwinnett County, GA, offers several writing opportunities in June.
Memoir writing workshop–A published author shows how.
Writer’s Group–Walk-in advice from a group of writers to one another.
Writer’s workshop–A writer of young adult fiction gives feedback for the first five pages of your book-in-progress.
Poetry writing–“Learn the essentials of expressing yourself through writing and performance.”
But libraries aren’t the only good places to flex your writing muscles. So are your local bookstores. The Barnes & Noble near my house has a Tuesday evening writers’ group open to everyone. Bring copies of your latest effort, read it aloud, and learn from the feedback of published writers and wannabes.
If you’re not sure where to find writing opportunities in your community, ask your public librarian. Librarians are trained to find almost everything.
Summer is a great time to improve your writing!
English Writing Teacher 