New Bedford Co-Creative Center

A plot is the design/plan of your story. It is what creates the novel no one can put down. In this class, you will learn to generate a plot by analyzing simple stories, along with writing exercises. We will use the three questions: what, how, and why? to master the five main parts of a plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. This workshop is perfect for those who are stuck on how to move forward.

Have you ever read a poem that makes the air tingle and you wonder how the writer did it? One way is through the power of the deep voice. In this workshop, you will learn how to write through the discovery of your inner voice—that unique person that lives in the language of your speech. Whether you’re writing poetry, stories, flash, or memoirs, find out how to write true to your own voice and style, true to your own vision and point of view, and true to your own life experience. The Method Writing techniques presented in this workshop were developed by award-winning Los Angeles poet Jack Grapes who has taught them to thousands of writers. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that Grapes’ work “cuts to the bone of basic human truth without the pretense that characterizes much of what passes for contemporary poetry.” Go beyond the literary style that characterizes your writing and take your reader’s breath away. Learn to write from the deep voice. Be authentic.

Worldbuilding is a tool normally associated with speculative fiction like The Lord of the Rings or Dune, but the practice of worldbuilding is useful for any type of fiction. It is the process of creating a believable and engaging fictional setting, including its history, geography, culture, and society, to immerse readers in a unique and coherent environment. In this workshop, we will discuss different elements of worldbuilding and how to apply them to your own fiction, regardless of genre.

Personal photos are an ideal inspiration for writing powerful poems. Our photo streams capture what we care about and hope to preserve, what moves and mystifies us, the people, places, and experiences that bring meaning into our lives. We’ll explore your personal photos as if they are works of art, prompting drafts of poems. We’ll focus on poetry craft elements including metaphor, persona, personification, imagery, symbol, music and voice, as well as revision. Bring 2-3 personal photos you want to explore. New and experienced writers are welcome.

This workshop offers participants an opportunity to focus on the lives of family members or acquaintances who contributed to the creative community of the South Coast. The workshop is led by Ron Fortier, the co-founder of The Artists Index, a nonprofit organization focused on documenting the lives and legacies of visual, performing, literary, and culinary artists. The first step in the writing process is conducting research. Participants will be introduced to the New Bedford Free Public Library’s Genealogy Room and Reference Rooms. The library’s microfiche newspaper collection and online resources will also be utilized. Gathering images of the essay subject’s artwork, photos, letters, or news clippings is integral to creating the essay’s timeline. Writing exercises include noting everything the participants know about the individual whose legacy they are documenting. Personal anecdotes will also be encouraged to prompt buried memories or disjointed facts. The workshop will prepare participants to create a well-written, 750-word factual essay that can be submitted to The Artists Index for consideration as a contributed article.

In this workshop, we will discuss voice and tone in the written word. Mark Twain said, “The difference between the correct word and the wrong word is the difference between lightning and a light bug.” In this class you will discover tools to help you find the right word to fit the tone you want to express. How to find the correct word to convey a story more effectively. Voice and tone, though similar, are not interchangeable, and one of the goals of this workshop is to be able to distinguish between the two and employ them in your writing. By getting a better grasp of these two tools, participants should be able to develop their own authentic writing style.

Let me help plan your castle onslaught. Fantasy as a genre continues to broaden in scope and popularity. Romantasy, grimdark, fable, and s-f top both on best seller lists and streaming services. From cozy novellas and epics spanning multiple volumes to movies and television, speculative fiction provides us with an increasingly necessary escapism and cultural critique. Writing these words have their own unique challenges, the primary challenge, the struggle between the comfort of a recognizable set of tropes and the thrilling novelty of a fresh approach. I believe structure helps a writer avoid the pitfalls of hackneyed devices while also acting as a prompt when feeling uninspired or just bogged down. Join this class and discover the tools to help you write your fantasy book with ease. Part 1: I will provide a rundown of various frameworks and tropes used in fantasy storytelling. Three-acts, hero’s journeys, and all the most popular arcs will be covered, as will the various linear and non-linear styles of presentation. Part 2: You will provide a synopsis, even an elevator pitch is enough, for a piece you are considering or are currently writing, be it a story, novel or script. We will workshop a tentative […]

This workshop is designed to jump start your memoir by discovering its premise. The premise is the foundational idea that sparks the story. It establishes the basic situation, characters, and conflict. Through questions leading to several follow-up questions, the workshop will tap into that nagging voice inside your head. You know the one that repeats itself over and over again in stories you tell or write. It's the story you want and need to tell. It starts with your premise.

In this two and a half hour workshop, we’ll look at examples of successful short plays, perform in-class exercises, and explore the unique opportunities and challenges of the short play format. The goal is for class participants to begin writing plays that cut to the chase without sacrificing character, content or conflict. Open to experienced as well as beginning playwrights, the class has only one requirement: the desire to write a play…

In this workshop learn the building blocks of screenwriting. Learn how to focus on visuals and audio cues, learn how to format a screenplay. Take inspiration from movies that have done well, and practice writing your own pieces. Everything you need to know to start, in one small little 2 hour class.