Renewing your commitment to writing in 2015: Poets&Writers conference + classes for writers

Jump-start your new year's writing resolutions with a winter writing class in your community or online. I'm headed to San Francisco on Saturday, January 10, for "Poets&Writers LIVE," a conference put on by my favorite writers' magazine. There's still room to register (cost is now $100):

Photo credit: Nicole R. Zimmerman

Join us for a day-long event at San Francisco's Brava Theater Center as we consider many facets of creativity, community, and inspiration. We'll kick things off with a "poetry keynote" by Pulitzer Prize–winner and former U.S. poet laureate Kay Ryan. A highlight of the program will be a multigenre, multimedia “inspiration experiment” featuring acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates.

Other sessions will include a discussion with authors and publishing professionals about resources for writers in San Francisco; a roundtable on smart self-publishing options; an interactive panel discussion on the Perfect Pitch in which we will invite select audience members to join an agent, an editor, and a publicist on stage; a conversation with award-winning poets and writers about why we write; and a "quarrel" between David Shields and Caleb Powell over the age-old debate of life vs. art. We'll top it all off with a Literary Mixer—a chance to meet others, share notes, and learn about the work of area presses and magazines.

The young writer at work

Or, consider signing up for an online course with another favorite, Creative Nonfiction magazine, which offers 10-week classes from January 12--March 22. According to their website:

Participants receive personalized feedback on assignments from their instructor, as well as responses from classmates on discussion board forums. All instructors are university professors and/or working professional writers--and there are never more than 14 students in any class. Conversation, firm deadlines, and feedback help keep you writing and improving your work throughout the class.

Check out this chock-full-of-inspiration lineup of classes, including the fabulous Becky Tuch, founder of my favorite writers' resource The Review Review.

paper - pencil - pen

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Monday, January 5, 2015