Grand Junction Workshops

Editing and Coaching

Retreats

About Sandy

Books and Selected Work

Response From Writers

Writing Workshops

"An instructor brimming with gifts and grace."
-- Karen Chamberlain, author, Desert of the Heart

Summer 2010

“Head in the Clouds”

 June 21-25
         
This intensive workshop is for all levels of writers who wish to write several thousand words on a book, either getting a hefty start on a memoir or novel or diving deeply into a project already underway.  Writers read two short books for the class:   Mrs. Dalloway, a novel by Virginia Woolf, and The Words To Say It, a memoir by Marie Cardinal, and reflect upon a story they’ve longed to write.  Each begins a novel or memoir by writing at length, without judgement, rewriting or editing, in a supportive atmosphere, with daily creative writing exercises and individual conferences.  The group also discusses narrative architectures, points of view, character, and plot as shape and outcome, using the two books as jumping-off points.  Writers will also be asked to read their own and others’ writing, to engage their minds and hearts, and to be encouraging and honest with themselves and others.
Last year, members of the class wrote 15,000-18,000 words.  Writing intensively in good company, without long breaks from the story, brought each writer to escape velocity, where the class became so immersed, writing deeply and quickly, that momentum carried the writers along, spinning them further and further into the story, a literally heady experience.

            Limited to 12.

Cost:                          $315.  2 college credits available.
Class location:          800 Colorado Avenue
Hours:           8-noon & 1-3 p.m.

            Registration:             Mail registration form with deposit of $150 or full amount ($300 early bird registration before class) to Sandra Dorr, 2529 Grand Overlook Drive, G.J. 81507.  Please call or write with any questions.

Ongoing Workshops, 2009-2010

Let go of the idea of the perfect poem or story and dive into the heady experience of writing in a supportive group. In this writers' community, begun in 2001, new and experienced writers learn from each other, write in class, study literature and respond to drafts in an atmosphere of listening, acceptance and trust. Come join us. The goal is to work from the fluid place of memory and imagination, without fear, and to learn to write honestly, sensually and with authority.

Visiting poets, nonfiction writers and novelists include Karen Chamberlain, James Van Pelt, Lyn Fraser, Danny Rosen and Wendy Videlock.

One full community scholarship available per semester.

Schedule:  The workshop meets every other week in downtown G.J. on Tuesday or Thursday nights, 6-9:30 p.m.

Tuesdays:   Women’s class.
Thursdays: All writers.

Cost:  $310/semester ($295 for continuing students or if paid a month before class).
Credit:  Two college credits available per semester.

Registration Form

" Fabulous class. I really appreciated your graciousness and generosity of spirit. I particularly loved the reading materials. Very inspirational, beautifully crafted writing. I found the writing exercises very challenging, and it felt good to be challenged."

-- Aspen poet, essayist Catherine Garland