UNCA's Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Fall Classes

The Great Smokies Writing Program, a consortium of the Western North Carolina writers and UNC Asheville, will offer six fall courses in poetry, prose, historical fiction and children’s literature. The classes are open to all interested writers. Students will earn UNCA credit hours in Literature & Language.

Cost is $20 for the visiting student application fee and $115.06 for tuition and fees for two credit hour classes and $172.59 for tuition and fees for the three credit hour classes.

Kathy Sheldon will teach "Poetic Voice: Advanced Poetry Workshop" from 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning September 4 at the Asheville School. This 15-week workshop will be devoted to finding and refining one's poetic voice. Students will complete writing exercises, share their own poems and learn how to revise toward uncovering their authentic voice. This is a three-credit hour class. Sheldon is a graduate of the Iowa's Writer's Workshop, she writes poetry, fiction and gardening books. Her poems have appeared in literary journals such as "Plainsong" and "The Florida Review."

Tommy Hays will lead "Give Up and Write: An Advanced Creative Prose Workshop" from 6-8:30 p.m. for Tuesdays beginning September 17 at the Asheville School. This 10-week class is for advanced prose writers. Emphasis will be on reading and critiquing each other's work as well as discussing craft and performing in-class writing exercises. The teacher will respond at length to submissions. This is a two-credit hour class. Hays is the author of two novels, "Sam's Crossing" and "In the Family Way," which was a selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and won the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. He is executive director of the Great Smokies Writing Program and is the Creative Writing chair for the Honors Program at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities.

Hays will also teach "Hanging in There: An Advanced Prose Writing Workshop" from 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning September 4 at the Asheville School. This 15-week class is for experienced prose writers who find themselves in need of structure, criticism and support. The class will read and discuss each other's work at length, and the teacher will respond thoroughly to individual work. This is a three-credit hour class.

Peggy B. Parris will instruct "Writing the Historical Novel" from 6-8:30 p.m. for Thursdays beginning September 19 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church. In this 10-week class, students will discover the process of writing historical fiction and tap into the many resources available about the past. This is a two-credit hour class. Parris has taught fiction writing for more than 20 years. Her first novel, "Waltzing in the Attic," was released in the U.S. and Europe. Her second, "His Arms are Full of Broken Things," was published in England and named a best book by the London Daily Mail.

Lawrence Chilnick will teach "Writing for Children Today" from 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning September 18 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church. In this 10-week class, participants will learn how to develop a story line, touch a young reader's imagination and complete a manuscript. Each student presents stories and assignments that are reviewed with an eye toward eventual publication. This is a two-credit hour class. Chilnick teaches writing at The New York University Center for Publishing and is an industry consultant. Most recently Chilnick worked with The A.G. Bell Foundation to publish "Herbie Hears The Horn," a book that is widely used in elementary schools.

Valerie Ann Leff will lead "Short Prose: Story, Memoir and Personal Essay" from 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays beginning September 16 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church. In this 10-week class, students will read examples of published short prose, write in-class exercises and discuss student manuscripts. A discussion of how to publish finished pieces in magazines and literary journals will be included. This is a two-credit hour class. Leff's short stories and personal essays have appeared in "The Antioch Review," "Lilith," "The Sun" and other journals. She is currently completing her first book-length collection of short fiction.

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

Media Contacts:

• Tommy Hays, Great Smokies Writing Program Director, 828/254-1389
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526