UNCA's Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Summer Workshops

The Great Smokies Writing Program, a consortium of the Western North Carolina writers’ community and UNCA, will offer summer workshops in poetry and prose. The workshops are open to all interested writers.

Peggy Millin will teach "Birthing the Muse: Journaling Your Way to Creative Writing" from 6-9 p.m. Thursdays June 8-July 13 (excluding June 29). The class is intended for writers of all levels who want to enliven and refine their art. Students will learn techniques for generating fresh material, stretching the mind, experimenting with the writing process and enjoying the support of other writers. Millin writes, edits, teaches and provides private facilitation and coaching for writers through her Asheville business Clarity Works. She has published a nonfiction book and several magazine articles.

Abigail De Witt will teach a workshop in fiction and memoir from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays May 30-June 27. Students will practice turning images, ideas and memories into whole stories while working toward completing one story or chapter of a book. De Witt is the recipient of the a Michener Fellowship from the University of Iowa and has taught at Harvard University, Boston University and UNCA. Her first novel, "Lili," is being published this June.

Lori Horvitz will teach a prose poetry/flash fiction workshop from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, June 7-July 5. This five-week course is designed for writers who wish to explore the boundaries between fiction and poetry. Students will concentrate on and experiment with source material, genre and language. Horvitz, a UNCA assistant professor of literature and language, is the author of many short stories and essays. She has been the recipient of writer-in-residency fellowships from Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Cottages at Hedgebrook and Blue Mountain Center.

Each class is worth one credit hour and will be held on UNCA’s campus. Cost is $20 for the visiting student application fee and $29.53 for tuition and fees.

For more information or to request an application, call UNCA Special Academic Programs at 828/251-6558.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Rick Chess, UNCA Creative Writing Program director, 828/251-6576
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information assistant, 828/251-6526