The Great Smokies Writing Program will offer classes in poetry and prose this fall

Local writers will have the opportunity to hone their skills with UNC Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program's fall workshop series. Classes are open to all interested writers; each course qualifies UNC Asheville credit hours in literature and language.

Veteran children's book editor Joy Neaves will teach "Wizards, Wild Things and Vampires: An Overview of Writing for Children" at the Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church from 6-8:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Mondays, beginning September 14. In this two-credit hour class, students will practice writing exercises, discover how to break into publishing and how to market published works.

"The Abiding Image: A Poetry Workshop," taught by award-winning poet Cathy Smith Bowers, will meet at the Kellogg Center in Hendersonville from 2-4:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 16. The course, which is geared toward the beginner poet, will focus on tension, metaphor and sound. It is a two-credit hour class.

Noted teacher and writer Marjorie Klein will lead "Get Real: A Creative Nonfiction Workshop" at the Mountain Heritage Center in Burnsville from 4-6:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 16. In this two-credit hour class, students will learn about creative non-fiction and its blend of poetry, fiction, drama and real-life events. Taking inspiration from published works, students will generate new work and review it together.

Novelists Christine Hale and Kevin McIlvoy will lead "Husk, Seed, Seedling: A Prose Workshop" at the Randolph Learning Center from 6-8:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 16. In this two-credit hour class, the natural world will spark the writing process, generate new writing and transform works in progress.

Laura Hope-Gill, Asheville Wordfest Director, will teach "Poetry at All Levels: Allowing the Psyche to Speak" at the Randolph Learning Center from 6-8:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 16. Students will practice generating and revising new work. Various technical elements will also be emphasized. It is a two-credit hour class.

Award-winning memoirist Jeff Smith will teach "Telling Our Stories: A Course in Memoir Writing" at the Randolph Learning Center from 6-8:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays beginning September 16. In this two-credit-hour class, students will work at writing individual life stories toward a theme or angle. The course is open to beginning and advanced writers.

Vicki Lane, author of the Elizabeth Goodweather mystery series, will lead "A Writer's Boot Camp for Popular Fiction: A Fiction Workshop" at the Randolph Learning Center from 6-8:30 p.m. for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, beginning September 16. This two-credit hour class will address the fundamentals of setting, characterization, dialogue and opening chapters. Students will be encouraged to begin a novel, which will be reviewed by the class and edited by Lane.

In addition, two classes for advanced writers will be offered. Prospective students for these two courses must receive permission to enroll by contacting Great Smokies Writing Program Director Tommy Hays at hays@main.nc.us.

Novelist Elizabeth Lugyens will teach "A Prose Master Class" for students who have completed two or more Great Smokies Writing Program classes and are looking for a more intensive writing and critiquing experience. This three-credit-hour class will meet at the Asheville School from 6-8:30 p.m. for 15 consecutive Tuesdays, beginning August 25.

Hays will lead "Keeping Ourselves Company: An Advanced Creative Prose Workshop" at the Asheville School from 6-8:30 p.m. for 15 consecutive Thursdays, beginning August 27. This three-credit-hour class is for advanced prose writers, who are working on projects or who want to start something new in either fiction or memoir.

Tuition and fees for the 15-week classes are $267.30 for North Carolina Residents. Tuition and fees for the 10-week classes are $178.20 for North Carolina residents. A $20 non-refundable application fee for new students will also be charged. Class size is limited; early registration is suggested.

For more information or to register, call the UNC Asheville Extension and Distance Education Office at 828/232-5122 or email fox@unca.edu. Applications are also available at www.unca.edu/gswp.