Write Now! Free Writing Class

There are still a few sessions left in our Write Now! series of stand-alone writing classes. Whether you're an aspiring or accomplished author or performer, Write Now! experts can help you fire up your creativity and breathe life into your words. 

All classes are 1.5 hours and are held at the Oshkosh Public Library. Best of all, they're free!

First Lines
6 p.m. Wed., April 24
Lower Level Conference Room

This workshop looks at some classic first lines and what makes them work. Then we move into a workshop on how to write your first line. This session is for both fiction and non-fiction.

Presenter: Carmen Leal is an Oshkosh resident and the author of ten published non-fiction books including Faces of Huntington’s, You Can Market Your Book, and The Twenty-third Psalm for Caregivers. Carmen’s writings have been featured in Guideposts, Focus on the Family, Decision Magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, and numerous national and local publications. Her personal experience stories have appeared in several Chicken Soup for the Soul collections and dozens of compilation book series. A storyteller with a dramatic testimony, she is a popular presenter at women's retreats, church groups, conventions and writers’ conferences on a wide variety of inspiring and relevant topics. Her wit, humor, and poignant personal observations, coupled with her down-to-earth style and common sense approach to dealing with life, inspire her audiences. Through her transparency, she has the ability to encourage and bring hope to all.

Blackout Poetry
6 p.m. Mon., April 29
Lower Level Conference Room

Blackout Poetry is quickly gaining popularity as a new art form. During this session, you'll experience the creative process of making blackout poetry using text from a newspaper or magazine and a black marker. Most of the words will be blacked out to form an original poem. You can see fresh examples of blackout poetry on Instragram, Snapchat or in poet Austin Kleon's book Newspaper Blackout, available as an eBook on Overdrive. Supplies will be provided.

Presenter: Literacy Teacher & ArtsCore Site Coordinator Angela Larsen

Roadmapping Your Novel in 90 Minutes
6 pm. Thurs., May 2
Lower Level Conference Room

You've got a great idea for a novel. Now what? Whether you are writing a romance or sci fi thriller, learn three different methods for plotting your book: the Snowflake Method, Mind Mapping and 250 Questions.  

Presenter: Dixie Jarchow (writes as Daisy Jerico). Dixie is the award-winning author of The Love Thief and Burning Love. Dixie co-hosts Author Showcase on Oshkosh's CATV2 and YouTube.

After Hours Open Mic Night
7 p.m.Fri., May 10  
    
Under the Dome (Enter through the Washington Avenue doors)
It's your turn to take the stage. During Open Mic Night, you'll have five minutes to read your work in front of an audience. Join other writers for a fun night of listening and sharing. Refreshments provided. 

Write Now! is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library in partnership with the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.