Writing Workshops

I'm thinking of putting together an ongoing writing workshop, either basic, for people interested in getting started writing their own stories, or advanced, for people who are already writers to get support and feedback from other writers.

Anyone know if there's something like this already available?

If not, would there be interest in something like this, do you think? If you'd be interested, what sort of workshop would you want...lecture types? Visiting artists? Writing exercises done at the workshop and traded for comment via Notecards and a memo board?

I'm pretty sure I could get a nice meeting space if this was specific to genre fiction, like science fiction / fantasy. Probably one of the SL universities would be willing to host a more general literary workshop.

So please -- let me know your thoughts on this!

One useful feature would be any degree of assignments and feedback. This takes a lot of work on the side of the voluteer, but I'd be happy to pay a few lindens for the trouble in such a class.

This is a workshop specifically on description that I give in RL:
Designed as a series of four lectures (can be split into eight) with exercises, this covers: what description is and is not; how to use description when showing, telling, or blending the two; using all five senses to their best effect; and using description to control pacing.

Are you thinking of something like that, for exercises/assignments?

There could be a memo board, where students pinned up their assignments, then the workshop leader pinned up the comments about those assignments.... that would give people some time to work on the assignments in between workshop sessions.

I was also thinking of maybe working through something like the exercises in Steering the Craft as a group.

I have a BS in English in RL, so I would be happy to help out in any way Just IM me ingame This sounds like fun

I agree.
This could be a lot of fun.

Not only would it be useful, but it would create an opportunity to meet other SL writers.

Finnivar, great idea! We would love to host this event.

This is exactly the kind of thing the Second Life Community College was founded to promote. It would fit nicely with the journalism course we already offer. IM me in game and I will be glad to show you around and further explore this.

The Writer's Circle had ongoing workshops for a month or so about two years ago. I'd love to help out if you want/need any help. If you're interested in pulling from the Writer's Circle list of people to start up some events, I'd be more than happy to make you an officer. If you're interested, throw me an IM in-game.
Dae

I'd definitely participate in something like this so add me to your mailing list I am also a writer in real life and would love to meet fellow writers and hone my craft or maybe try another form of writing I've never explored before.

It would be a good idea to have a section on Creativity itself, both in words and in visual form.

I'd be happy to contribute to a class on non-fiction/journalism writing. 30 years RL experience. oy.

I would love to do this. Please send me an email message.

I'm Miller Copeland, a brand-new citizen. In RL I've been a professional novelist and travel writer for over 10 years, and would love to volunteer my services to some workshops. I'm planning on eventually being heavily involved with the game (I'm here to set up a live-event production company, in fact), but for now am a little overwhelmed by the entire universe; so, if any writers/lit lovers would like to contact me in-game or out, maybe offer to hold my hand a little right now and take me around to some places worth checking out, it would be much appreciated. You can contact me here/in-game via PM, or by RLmail at ilikejason [at] gmail.com. If you end up putting together a group or mailing list for this writing workshop, please feel free to add me to it.

The first meeting of the Writers' Workshop will be 6pm SLT on Thursday, April 27.
Meeting location will be the SL Community College.

Notecards with the first workshop topic -- Show Don't Tell -- will be handed out at the meeting, as well as be available for people who aren't able to attend at that time. The notecards will also contain the writing assignment for the week.

Expect a short workshop, followed by a discussion of the logistics of holding a weekly workshop, and how well the proposed format worked (or didn't work, as case may be). Future weeks will have longer workshops.

I look forward to seeing you all there!