Writing Classes for All: Announcing the Fall 2024 Lineup
The Library is pleased to announce a new season of writing classes taught by graduate students in the Master of Fine Arts creative writing program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Course offerings cover a wide range of skills – from crafting a resume or cover letter to writing sonnets and family histories – and are free and open to anyone of any education level or writing background.
The university-quality classes are made possible by proceeds from the annual Writers for Readers fundraiser, a partnership between the Kansas City Public Library and UMKC. This year, Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, Dark Places, and Sharp Objects, will be in conversation with novelist and UMKC associate professor Whitney Terrell on Thursday, November 21.
“I’ve learned so much about writing from brilliant and generous mentors and teachers, and I’m excited to share that with the Kansas City community,” says Alex Tretbar, one of three MFA candidates at UMKC who will teach the courses.
The partnership also supports the Maya Angelou Book Award, a national literary prize recognizing outstanding new contributions to literature and social justice in fiction and poetry. This school year, Tretbar will teach classes, but is also the intern assigned to work with the book award committee.
The award was established in 2020 by the Kansas City Public Library, UMKC, and five other state universities and comes with a $10,000 stipend.
The winner will be announced at the Writers for Readers event.
Check the events calendar for details and to RSVP:
Wednesday, Aug. 21: Character Building: How to Breathe Life into Your Characters
Saturday, Aug. 24: Writing About Your Life: Flash Nonfiction
Wednesday, Aug. 28: Figurative Language: Making Your Writing Sparkle
Thursday, Aug. 29: Beginning a Novel
Wednesday, Sept. 4: Poetry on the Page
Thursday, Sept. 5: (Re)writing as Therapy
Monday, Sept. 9: Flash Fiction: The Short-Short Story
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Back to the Future: Writing Your Family History
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Prose Poetry
Thursday, Sept. 19: Write What You See in This Picture
Saturday, Sept. 21: The Magic of Poetry
Wednesday, Sept. 25: Convincing Your Audience: The Art of Persuasion
Saturday, Sept. 28: Beginning a Novel
Tuesday, Oct. 1: Journaling Journey
Wednesday, Oct. 2: Building a Character
At the Heartland Book Festival
Saturday, Oct. 12: Contrapuntal Poetry
Saturday, Oct. 12: Flash Nonfiction: Writing About Your Life
Saturday, Oct. 12: Writing a Ghost Story
Wednesday, Oct. 16: Figurative Language: Making Your Writing Sparkle
Thursday, Oct. 17: (Re)writing as Therapy
Thursday, Oct. 24: Writing About Your Life: Flash Nonfiction
Saturday, Oct. 26: Poetry on the Page
Tuesday, Oct. 29: Writing a Ghost Story
Wednesday, Oct. 30: Flash Fiction: the Short-Short Story
Wednesday, Nov. 6: The Magic of Poetry
Wednesday, Nov. 6: Cover Letters: Writing Your Way Into a New Job or Apartment
Saturday, Nov. 9: Narrative Techniques/Free Write
Wednesday, Nov. 13: Flash Nonfiction: Writing About Your Life
Thursday, Nov. 14: Back to the Future: Writing Your Family History
Tuesday, Nov. 19: Beginning a Novel
Wednesday, Nov. 20: Character Building: How to Breathe Life Into Your Characters
Wednesday, Nov. 27: Poetry on the Page
Monday, Dec. 2: Figurative Language: Making Your Writing Sparkle
Thursday, Dec. 5: Writing About Your Life: Flash Nonfiction
Saturday, Dec. 14: (Re)writing as Therapy