Free creative writing classes at SCC for National Novel Writing Month in November

Shoreline Community College is hosting free creative writing workshops for NaNoMo - National Novel Writing Month.

These free workshops are taught by college instructors - so it's like getting a free college writing class!

Parking is free after 4pm in every lot on campus. The college is located at 16101 Greenwood Ave N. The events are in the library (free wifi) which is in the 4000 building.

We would love to see our wonderful community members at these free workshops!

There are three: November 6, November 13, November 20 - all on Wednesdays in the early evening.

Gary Parks

Simple Prompts to Start a Story
Wednesday November 6th 5:30pm (Room 4202 in the library)
This workshop will involve you in fiction methods like writing voice, character development, and others to help you start your novel or story (or nurture one already started). Some easy techniques will be discussed that will let you get to the root of what your story is really about.

Instructor Gary Parks grew up in western Montana and left at 18 to pursue an education and teaching career. Teaching interests include pre-transfer and transfer composition, research writing, short story writing, fiction studies, and Irish study abroad. Short stories have appeared in Portland Review, Black Warrior Review, Grey's Sporting Journal, Alaska Quarterly, Spindrift, and others.

Michael Overa

Eavesdropping on Our Characters
Wednesday November 13 5:30pm (Room 4202 in the library)
The art of natural language in a novel’s dialogue can suspend a reader’s belief and make them feel like they are overhearing an important conversation.
Michael Overa teaches this workshop in the style of Don DeLillo’s intimate and real sounding dialogue conversations.

With a Bachelors in Creative Writing and a MFA in Creative Writing, Michael Overa has a solid academic background in fiction writing. His award winning work can be found in over 30 publications including two short story collections, This Endless Road and The Filled In Spaces.

Vince Barnes

Describing Characters
Wednesday November 20 6:00pm (Room 4202 in the library)
Fleshing out the characters in your mind can be so challenging, but readers often say that the characters are the reason they read a story. Write memorable, unique characters with the skills you will learn in this workshop.  Avoid cliché, tropes, and stereotypes that objectify or marginalize certain readers.

Having been repeatedly published in the Seattle Times, Vince Barnes is known for his quick witted prose and meaningful short pieces. Barnes teaches English as a Second Language at Shoreline Community College and has his Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of Washington.