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

Dale Neal will teach "Writing Stories That Matter: A Fiction Workshop" from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays June 6, 13, 20 and July 11 and 18. The five-week workshop will explore the craft of short story and how writers move characters through conflict to an ending that resonates with the reader. Neal’s short fiction has appeared in the "Carolina Quarterly," "Marlboro Review," "Crescent Review" and many others. He has been awarded fellowships at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and was featured on public television’s "North Carolina Bookwatch" in 1998 as a promising new writer. A veteran newspaperman, Neal reviews books and covers religion for the Asheville Citizen-Times, where his work has won numerous press awards.

Sebastian Matthews will teach "Open Poetry: A Poetry Workshop" from 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays June 4-July 2. In this workshop, students will write, read and discuss poetry. Sonnets, haiku, blues and free verse poetry will be explored. Matthews’ poetry and prose have appeared in numerous journals, including "The Atlantic Monthly," "Brilliant Corners" and "New England Journal Review." His forthcoming collection of poems, "The Green Man Walks Across America" will be published by Salmon Press.

Rebecca Upham will teach "On Becoming A Writer: A Class for Rising High School Seniors" from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings June 5-July 5. This class will be geared toward rising high school seniors who are interested in writing and discussing short stories and poetry. During the course, students will complete five poems or one short story and will learn how to prepare a manuscript or portfolio for publication. Upham has taught creative writing at UNCA and the Asheville School. Although she focuses on short stories, Upham enjoys writing poetry and recently completed a screenplay.

Each class is worth one college credit hour and will be held on the A-B Tech campus. Cost is $20 for the visiting student application fee and $27.77 for tuition and fees.

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