A 2-Day Hybrid Workshop on Creative Nonfiction
Saturdays, November 16 & 23, 12-3 PM
This two-part class will focus on how to find, research and write compelling nonfiction articles based on other people's stories. We will train our eyes on interesting people, groups and places to craft a narrative that is as informative as it is entertaining.
In session one, we will workshop story ideas, go over the basics of finding and/or interviewing sources and doing research, and explore the work of some of the best creative nonfiction writers currently working. We'll read work by great feature writers like Taffy Brodesser-Akner, David Foster Wallace, Caity Weaver, Amanda Petrusich and others.
In the week between classes, you will either interview a source or do some research, and write a draft of the first five paragraphs of your proposed story.
In session two, we will go over our research and interviews, edit our first five paragraphs, and discuss next steps in fleshing out and completing your story. By the end of this workshop, you will be on your way to a finished product ready to be pitched and (hopefully!) published.
+ PLEASE BRING a few story ideas to develop into a feature-length article or essay. Examples could be: a profile of an interesting person in your community, delving into a little-known moment in history, or explaining how an organization, business or other group came to be.
$120 Members/$175 Nonmembers
Emily Burnham is a writer and editor based in Bangor, Maine. She is a reporter and columnist for the Bangor Daily News, and the author of “Downtown, Upriver: Bangor in the 1970s” (Islandport Press, October 2023), winner of the Maine Literary Book Award for Excellence in Publishing. She is a Waldo County native and a longtime chronicler of Maine and New England culture, specializing in subjects including the arts, food, history and pop culture. In addition to the Bangor Daily News, her work has appeared in publications including USA Today, Boston Magazine, Maine Magazine and the Portland Phoenix.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-200-7180 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Email programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due by November 1 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION