Dear Writers,
October is here and Fall is a great time for setting or reviewing writing goals.
But, what if we don’t make them all? Then, comes the inevitable guilt or self doubt.
I also didn’t completely make all of mine (yet). But I got farther than I would have if I didn’t have any goals. I stretched myself.
Here are two secrets I’ve learned as a life-long artist and writer:
Goals are here to guide us, and we must have stamina
It’s not just the destination of having written a book, but the journey toward becoming a writer.
Don’t worry if you are behind where you said you would be for the year.
Instead, try this: Make small, steady progress on many goals, until one finishes.
And then another will be just beginning. Work in baby steps.
Goals are here to motivate us but we don’t always hit them perfectly or as planned.
That’s okay. The point is to have them because it stretches us.
Think of three writing-related goals you did get accomplished this year.
Write them down: Even if they are small wins, they’re still worth celebrating
A goal could be making significant progress on your novel, or finishing a set of five poems that you like. When you hit the finishing line on a big goal, declare that it’s done, and announce it to someone.
Keep Writing!
Alexandra
Here are three of my accomplished goals for SF Creative Writing Institute.
(I added pictures to be fancy.)
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Accomplished Goal #1:
Oct 26, 2024 - 6:30-7:30 pm
Write from the Gut is back. We have a reading tonight at Et. al gallery in the mission as part of the LitCrawl.
If you're local, join us!
Accomplished Goal #2:
We launched our new website!
Accomplished Goal #3:
We scheduled New Fall Online, In-Person and Hybrid Writing Workshops. Here's one that starts on Nov. 14:
Threads and Breaks: Flash Fiction vs. Narrative Poetry
Instructor: Paul-Corman-Roberts
A beginner-friendly generative writing workshop that hugs the line between poetry and prose.
What makes a piece of writing flash fiction and what makes a prose poem? Join this workshop to explore the difference and find out where your writing fits in.
This online 6-week course will generate flash writing portfolios and/or works-in-progress (WIP’s) from a close study of the fine line between flash fiction and narrative poetry, and the ways in which style can subvert and inform substance into an entirely new way of writing and thinking about writing.
Anout the Instructor:
Paul Corman-Roberts has coached many successful poets and writers to publication, from chapbooks to full-length collections. He is the author of four chapbooks and two full-length collections of prose poetry, including the Firecracker nominated poetry collection Bone Moon Palace from Black Lawrence Press in 2021. He is a four-time nominee for Pushcart, Best of the Web, and Northern California Book Award. He is an MA/MFA Graduate of New College of California Poetics. In addition to teaching at SF Creative Writing Institute, he also teaches workshops for the Older Writers Lab at the SF Public Library and works in the Oakland Unified School District.
Autumn Character Arc Intensive has launched Oct 19.
Instructor: Alexandra Kostoulas
A writing workshop for advanced writers in the throws of writing a novel or memoir. Returning writers may join with their manuscript by Oct 31.
In this next workshop in the Advanced Prose series, we continue to talk about narrative concepts, examine each other's work, share ideas and edits, challenge each other, and cheer each other on.
Continuing students will meet once a month over summer to focus on crafting dynamic characters and their arcs and move ahead with their books.
We still talk about plot a little bit, but this time we have a character arc focus— as writers work toward a deadline to complete a draft of their manuscripts.
We'll meet once a month over fall in person, on Saturdays and/or online as desired. Writers will turn in 20-25 pages of material each month.
Workshop Meets in Person on these dates:
Oct 19, Nov. 16. Dec. 21.
Deadline to turn in manuscript pages:
Oct 31, November 30, Dec 31.
There will be weekly office hours, pep-talks and accountability. Every Friday at noon there is an office hour to attend and get support.
Anout the Instructor:
Alexandra Kostoulas founded the SF Creative Writing Institute in 2015. She teaches people to find their voice and unblock themselves creatively every day. She has worked with thousands of students from all walks of life in her career as an educator and has coached many aspiring writers to publication and performance of their work. Her students have gone on to run literary organizations, become professors at prestigious universities, publish their work in peer-reviewed journals, land book deals and break barriers in their writing and lives. She writes poetry, nonfiction and fiction.
"To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man."
— Aristotle
"You can't blame a writer for what the characters say."
― Truman Capote
"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it.
That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence"
—Octavia Butler