‘Curators of thought’ take note: Selkirk College’s Writing program is offering some exciting new features this fall
By Contributor
This fall Selkirk College’s second year Studies in Writing courses will be offered on multiple campuses (Nelson and Castlegar) and in a hybridized format that combines face-to-face sessions with online work. Beyond that, the courses will offer a new ‘project mentoring’ focus designed to support writers who aspire to complete longer, possibly book-length creative writing pieces. Novels, memoirs, poetry collections–you name it.
Instructor Almeda Glenn Miller is excited about the changes.
“The Creative Writing program is offering workshops that are more adaptable for writers working in a variety of genres. We offer writers a community committed to having a dialogue about some of the common and not-so common dilemmas of the craft.
“Our faculty offers in depth feedback to writers, and provides a forum for writers to read and respond to each other’s written work. Each workshop attempts to address individual needs of writers in addition to exploring some common theoretical questions around the craft. In an online/face-to-face hybrid mode, the workshop will adapt to writers with competing schedules.”
Miller believes the new format will help writers who are looking to complete that proverbial novel or memoir.
“If you are the kind of writer that wants to explore a variety of genres – be it poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama – our first year class offers instruction in each of these genres. If you have explored these genres and have a specific project in mind, our second year workshop will help you focus your writing, provide feedback, and give you plenty of opportunities to have your work read by a variety of readers.”
The courses will also offer new writers valuable insight into the publishing world and will, Miller feels, be invaluable to the local arts scene.
“Developing writers gives voice to the vital culture and community in the Kootenays. Writers articulate what others think but forget to write down. We reflect a consciousness back to the people, and sometimes we can create a reality by writing it first. I wonder, if in a way, we are curators of thought, organizing and categorizing what is going on in the minds of our population and exposing these ideas for a more fruitful dialogue amongst ourselves, and for those observing from afar.”
CWRT 200 begins next week in Nelson and Castlegar and enrollment is still open. If interested, call Selkirk College at 250-365-7292 (233), email, or check the courses out online.
