Writers' Classes

    • Tuesday, April 11, 2023
    • Tuesday, June 27, 2023
    • 12 sessions
    • Class time is Pacific Standard Time
    • 25
    Register

    Write Now is a weekly time to write in the company of others. Using Zoom to come together, we write for 25 minutes, take a break, repeat.

    There is no sharing or critique of your writing, only fast-paced, supportive productivity in the company of other writers. It is fun, exciting, and might be the thing to help you finish (or start...) your manuscript. These virtual sessions help participants set aside time to write and be with other writers in an informal setting. 

    The sessions are led by a rotating team of hosts including Jen Scheiderman, Amelia Ramsey, Kassia Sing, Genevieve Douglass, and Steve Bice.

    Additional sessions available on Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 am.

    Details

    • You can register at any time, even if a session has passed.

    • A Zoom link will be sent one day prior to each session to the email you registered with. Please watch for this email. Signing up does not mean you have to commit to all the sessions.

    Studio Lead: Jessica Dubey  [email protected]


    • Thursday, April 13, 2023
    • Thursday, June 29, 2023
    • 12 sessions
    • Class time is Pacific Standard Time
    • 32
    Register

    Write Now is a weekly time to write in the company of others. Using Zoom to come together, we write for 25 minutes, take a break, repeat.

    There is no sharing or critique of your writing, only fast-paced, supportive productivity in the company of other writers. It is fun, exciting, and might be the thing to help you finish (or start...) your manuscript. These virtual sessions help participants set aside time to write and be with other writers in an informal setting. 

    The sessions are led by a rotating team of hosts including Jen Scheiderman, Amelia Ramsey, Kassia Sing, Genevieve Douglass, and Steve Bice.

    Additional sessions available on Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am.

    Details

    • You can register at any time, even if a session has passed.

    • A Zoom link will be sent one day prior to each session to the email you registered with. Please watch for this email. Signing up does not mean you have to commit to all the sessions.

    Studio Lead: Jessica Dubey  [email protected]



    • Thursday, June 08, 2023
    • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • BARN's Writers' Studio, Class code: WR060823JD
    • 9
    Register

    This open mic is an opportunity for writers of all levels of experience to read their work to an appreciative audience.

    About this Event

    This is a great way to reach new readers and meet people who love words as much as you do. It takes courage to share your work with others. Be brave!

    We have slots for 12 readers to read five-minute selections. Register as "Reader" soon to snag one of these spots. We have plenty of room for members of the audience to enjoy some great readings.

    Details

    1. Brief introductions (say your name, what you write)
    2. Sit back and enjoy
    3. Very Important: Everyone who wants to participate, whether as a reader or appreciative audience member, must register for this free event.
    4. No drop-ins please. Join the waitlist if this event fills.

    BARN Policies

    Jessica Dubey is the Writers’ Studio lead.
    • Thursday, June 15, 2023
    • 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM
    • The Great Room at BARN, Class code: WR061523AS
    • 20

    We’re excited to offer Open Mic for poets of all experience levels to read their work to an appreciative audience.

    About this Event

    This is a great opportunity to reach new readers and meet people who love words as much as you do. It takes courage to share your work with others. Be brave!

    Details

    • Open to the public, and everyone is welcome.
    • No need to register in advance.
    • Signup for the open mic will start at 6:45 pm at BARN. Poets will be asked to keep their readings to four minutes or less.
    Featured Reader: Ann Spiers

    Ann lives on Vashon Island where she stewards its Poetry Pole and was Vashon's Inaugural Poet Laureate. Her most recent poetry volumes include "Rain Violent" (Empty Bowl), "Back Cut" (Black Heron), and "Harpoon" (Ravenna Triple Series). As a poet, she collaborated with book artist Catherine Alice Michaelis (May Day Press) on the fine-art chapbooks, "Volcano Blue," "Tide Turn," and "A Wild Taste."


    Host: Michele Bombardier, Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate 

    Michele Bombardier is Bainbridge Island’s first poet laureate. She is author of "What We Do," a Washington Book Award finalist; has published more than a hundred poems and reviews; holds an MFA in poetry; and is the founder of Fishplate Poetry, offering retreats and workshops.

    This free event is sponsored by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge, the city of Bainbridge Island, Bloedel Reserve, and BARN. Join us every third Thursday for featured and open mic readings.

    This event will be in BARN's Great Room on the main level.

    Class Policies

    • Monday, June 26, 2023
    • Monday, July 17, 2023
    • 4 sessions
    • Class time Pacific Time, Class Code: WR062623CF
    • 16
    Register

    Learn how to plot out a well-structured screenplay that is both compelling and producible in just one month.

    About this Class

    You'll learn the basics of screenwriting, including structure, character development, dialogue, and more.

    The course will include a mix of instruction, workshopping, and an introduction to software options like Final Draft and Writer's Duet. You'll learn how to turn ideas into films. This course is perfect for anyone interested in pursuing a career in screenwriting or simply looking to explore their creative side.

    Details

    • Registration closes at 7 pm Sunday, June 25.
    • This class takes place via Zoom. For a great video on how to use Zoom, watch this tutorial.
    • A Zoom link will be sent one day prior to the event to the email address you used to register. Please watch for this email. You may need to check your spam folder.

    Class Policies

    Instructor

    Colette Freedman is a novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Her plays and musicals have been performed all over the world, including "Serial Killer Barbie" and "Sister Cities." She just returned from Carnegie Hall where she was the dramaturg for the musical "Mozart: Her Story." Colette has produced a number of films and written several indie gems including "And Then There Was Eve," which won The Los Angeles Film Festival. She co-produced "Quality Problems," which has won several awards on the festival circuit. She is in post-production for her coming-of-age film "Miles Underwater." Her Amelia Earhart film "7,000 Miles," starring Wendie Malick, is currently on the festival circuit. She is a faculty member at New York Film Academy, Antioch University, and Studio Arts where she teaches screenwriting, playwriting, and novel writing.

    www.colettefreedman.com, (@colettefreedman)

    • Monday, July 10, 2023
    • Thursday, July 13, 2023
    • 4 sessions
    • The Writers' Studio, Class Code WR071023CH
    • 0
    Join waitlist
    Write a song (and more) in just four days! 

    About this Class

    Using a notebook and your imagination, you'll find and record sounds in the natural world - build beats, discover melodies, and listen to the artists that inspire you. This is a supportive environment for anyone looking to share poems and songs, an introduction to songwriting for those who have never written before, or a space to dive into your existing practice. You are welcome to bring instruments, and write with friends. Prior musical experience is not required.

    Details

    • For students ages 10-14.
    • Skill Level: Beginner
    • Registration closes on Monday, July 3.
    • When you register your youth, enter their name in the Youth's Name field and enter the parent/guardian email address for "registrants email." All reminders and important information will go to that email address.
    • Complete and return this minor permission form.
    • You may register your youth for an optional supervised lunch hour from 12-1 pm for the duration of this class.
    • A $15 materials fee, included in the cost of the class, covers what materials are needed. See below for what students can bring.

    Project

      You can expect to write multiple songs during the week (and if computer/mics are available in the media lab, you'll also have a chance to record demos). 

          Materials

          • Students should bring a notebook and writing utensils
          • Headphones and smart phone if available (for one day only)
          • Instruments (optional)

          Class Policies

          Instructor

          Natalie Akers is a pianist and educator who arrived on Bainbridge to teach and learn at IslandWood. She has worked on bringing interdisciplinary and music programs to middle and high school students in the US, France, and Japan and believes in songwriting as a powerful tool for young people to develop a positive and authentic sense of self. She has taught writing in vocational high schools and toured the US playing keyboard in the Jenner Fox band. Sisters Folk Festival review: “It’s a rare person who gets to hear Natalie play and doesn’t find themselves wishing they played piano or falling a little more deeply for music.”

          • Monday, July 17, 2023
          • Thursday, July 20, 2023
          • 4 sessions
          • The Writers' Studio, Class Code WR071723CH
          • 4
          Register
          Write a song (and more) in just four days! 

          About this Class

          Using a notebook and your imagination, you'll find and record sounds in the natural world - build beats, discover melodies, and listen to the artists that inspire you. This is a supportive environment for anyone looking to share poems and songs, an introduction to songwriting for those who have never written before, or a space to dive into your existing practice. You are welcome to bring instruments, and write with friends. Prior musical experience is not required.

          Details

          • For students ages 10-14.
          • Skill Level: Beginner
          • Registration closes on Monday, July 10.
          • When you register your youth, enter their name in the Youth's Name field and enter the parent/guardian email address for "registrants email." All reminders and important information will go to that email address.
          • Complete and return this minor permission form.
          • You may register your youth for an optional supervised lunch hour from 12-1 pm for the duration of this class.
          • A $15 materials fee, included in the cost of the class, covers what materials are needed. See below for what students can bring.

          Project

            You can expect to write multiple songs during the week (and if computer/mics are available in the media lab, you'll also have a chance to record demos). 

                Materials

                • Students should bring a notebook and writing utensils
                • Headphones and smart phone if available (for one day only)
                • Instruments (optional)

                Class Policies

                Instructor

                Natalie Akers is a pianist and educator who arrived on Bainbridge to teach and learn at IslandWood. She has worked on bringing interdisciplinary and music programs to middle and high school students in the US, France, and Japan and believes in songwriting as a powerful tool for young people to develop a positive and authentic sense of self. She has taught writing in vocational high schools and toured the US playing keyboard in the Jenner Fox band. Sisters Folk Festival review: “It’s a rare person who gets to hear Natalie play and doesn’t find themselves wishing they played piano or falling a little more deeply for music.”

                • Saturday, July 29, 2023
                • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
                • The BARN Writers' Studio, Class Code: WR072923BJ
                • 15
                Register
                Get your project noticed even as agents are flooded with more queries and publishers are producing fewer books.

                About this Class

                Agents report they're getting more  proposals than ever, and fewer books are being produced each year. How can you break through the noise?

                This class will help you step back and see your fiction or nonfiction work through fresh eyes and a business-based perspective. We’ll identify the things that make your work unique, marketable, and irresistible to publishing gatekeepers. Then, with lots of examples and time for practice and personal feedback, we’ll work on verbal “elevator pitches,” the short hooks that also are great for query letters. We’ll cover the structure of query letters, and cover some tips and tricks for getting an agent or publisher’s attention.

                This also is a valuable class for self-publishing writers who want to pitch their books so that readers pay attention.

                You will:

                1. Be challenged to consider their work from a fresh, detached, commercial perspective.

                2. Learn how to condense full-length fiction and nonfiction projects into industry-appropriate 1- to 2-page synopses, and identify compelling “hooks” that make great verbal pitches and query letter descriptions.

                3. Gain a realistic understanding of what publishers and agents are looking for in new authors, including author platform, compelling concept, and connection to existing popular trends.

                Class Policies

                Instructor

                Beth Jusino is a publishing consultant for both traditional and self-publishing authors, with almost 20 years of experience helping writers navigate the complicated space between manuscript and final book. A former literary agent and marketing director, she’s the author of the award-winning "The Author’s Guide to Marketing" and has ghostwritten or collaborated on half a dozen additional titles. Beth is a member of the Northwest Independent Editors Guild, a regular speaker for Seattle Public Library’s #SeattleWrites workshops, and has taught at writers’ conferences across the country. Visit her online at www.bethjusino.com or on Twitter @bethjusino.
                • Saturday, November 18, 2023
                • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
                • The Writers' Studio, Class Code: WR111823BB
                • 15
                Register

                Learn how to create and develop humorous characters.

                About this Class

                Shakespeare created Falstaff. Lily Tomlin created multiple characters. David Sedaris is his own humorous character. So is Nora Ephron. Lena Dunham. Dave Barry. Such characters delight, entertain, inspire, and inform readers.

                This class considers a few questions when it comes to creating humorous characters, such as: "Does my character react to life humorously or use humor to navigate life?" "Does the humor provide relief, amusement, or share a truth?" "What actions, speech, likes, dislikes, and mannerisms make a character funny?"

                Details

                • Skill level: All levels
                • Some reading will be suggested (not required) before class

                Class Policies

                Instructor

                Bob Balmer’s humorous pieces, stories, and essays have appeared in Smithsonian Magazine, the Seattle Times, the Seattle Weekly, Golf Illustrated, ZYZZYVA, the Oregonian, and other print media. His work has aired on MarketPlace, the Savvy Traveler, and Oregon Public Radio Broadcasting and Television.

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