Great Smokies Writing Program Offers Summer Workshops

The Great Smokies Writing Program, a consortium of the Western North Carolina writers' community and UNC Asheville, will offer four summer workshops. Classes will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. and are open to all interested writers.

Kathy Sheldon will teach "Revision: A Poetry Workshop" on June 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10, at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church, 171 Beaverdam Rd., Asheville. In this five-evening workshop, students will focus on the art of revision to transform poems. Appropriate for both beginning and experienced poets, this workshop will offer a supportive environment where students will be encouraged to break old habits and explore new possibilities as they take poems through several drafts. Sheldon has published poetry in "The Florida Review," "Plainsong," and other literary journals. The author of several nonfiction books, she has worked as an editor and writer in both magazine and book publishing for 20 years, along with teaching writing at the University of Iowa, Warren Wilson College and the Great Smokies Writing Program.

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara will teach "Getting Started: An Introduction to Fiction" June 8, 15, 17, 22 and 29, at the Asheville School, 360 Asheville School Rd. This introductory fiction class will introduce students to the basic elements of a story-character, setting, action and dialogue. Students will complete exercises that can help get writers move through a piece and also how to take the step from writing a few pages to writing a full story. Beach-Ferrara, who holds a master’s degree from Warren Wilson College, is currently the Warren Wilson College Joan Beebe Teaching Fellow. Her work has appeared in "The Harvard Review," "Puerto del Sol," "The Bellevue Review," and other journals. She is working on a collection of short stories.

Lori Horvitz will teach "Flash Fiction: Microfiction Workshop" for five consecutive Wednesdays beginning June 16 at the Asheville School. Using fictional strategies, students in this class will work on stories constructed with a minimal number of words. Often flash fiction has the imagery, density and quickness of language that is associated with poetry. Sessions will include structured critiques, in-class writing, and discussions of published texts. Horvitz's poetry, short stories, and essays have appeared in many literary journals and anthologies, including Lonely Planet's "Rite of Passage: Backpacking 'Round Europe," "The Coe Review," "Quarter After Eight," and "13th Moon." She's been the recipient of writer-in-residency fellowships from Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Blue Mountain Center and Cottages at Hedgebrook. She is an assistant professor of literature and language at UNC Asheville.

Peggy Tabor Millin will teach "Finding Words" on June 8, 22, 29 and July 6 and 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 40 Church St., Asheville. In this class, students will learn a free-writing technique for generating material, how to develop a writing practice, and how to move from process to product. This class is helpful to emerging writers as well as accomplished writers seeking inspiration and new material. Millin teaches the writing process through her business, Clarity Works, Inc. She also provides coaching and support for individual writers and publishers. She has published in "Native Peoples," "Lumina," "New Realities," and "Lotus." Her nonfiction book, "Mary's Way," was published in the U.S. and Mexico.

Cost is $20 for the visiting student application fee and $60.69 for tuition and fees. Students, who meet North Carolina residency requirement, will earn one UNC Asheville credit hour in literature and language. Information on out-of-state tuition or course audit is available upon request. Class size is limited; early registration is suggested.

For more information or to register, call UNC Asheville's Special Academic Programs Office at 828/250-3833 or e-mail lpreston@unca.edu.

Media Contacts:

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