Writers' Center
Elements of Writing Fiction
The American novelist Willa Cather advised writers to "stop writing, start remembering." Stories are born in our unique experiences. Our imaginations make those stories live and breathe, and connect them to the broader human experience. This course is designed for anyone who has a story to tell and wants to craft it into a completed work of fiction. We will read and comment on each other’s work in a supporting and encouraging setting. Along the way, we will use examples from great works of fiction to guide our own choices about characterization, dialogue, voice, and other elements. And we’ll engage in exercises to prompt our imaginations and take the leaps of faith that continue us on our journey. This course is for beginning to mid-level fiction writers of all ages.
Instructor Bruce Tallerman's fiction has been published in a number of literary magazines, including Southern California Review, Laurel Review, Quarter After Eight, Paterson Review, and Southern Anthology. He is a two-time recipient of the BRIO Award for Fiction from the Bronx Council on the Arts. Bruce has studied creative writing at The New School, UCLA, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and has taught fiction at Gotham Writers’ Workshop and Riverdale Community Center.
How To Make a Poem
In a supportive workshop setting, poets of all levels—from the newly inspired to the veteran—are encouraged to join this intimate class with the goals of growing as writers and readers of poetry. Participants will share their work with the intention of creating new poems, revising existing ones, and finding new ways to push the boundaries of poetic expression. Poets will have the opportunity to build a vibrant writing community through discussions of their own work and explorations of poems written by leading contemporary poets.
Instructor Sarah Stern's first book Another Word for Love was published by Finishing Line Press in 2011. Her poems have appeared in magazines, anthologies, and online, and most recently in Epiphany and Verse Daily. Sarah is a four-time winner of the BRIO Award for Poetry from the Bronx Council on the Arts, and received Honorable Mentions from the Anna Davidson Rosenberg Awards and Lilith Magazine’s Poetry Prize. Sarah has worked as a journalist, editor, writer, and press officer.
Writing a Spiritual Memoir
The art of writing a memoir is a way to uncover meaningful narrative threads in the story of one's life. The popular genre of spiritual memoir derives from this process, as writers make connections between transcendent and ordinary moments. In this workshop, participants will explore examples of spiritual memoir, write from guided prompts, and find direction for crafting memoirs, mosaics, and essays. This workshop is designed for writers who already have a memoir in progress, as well as those who are looking for a way to begin.
Instructor Amy Gottlieb's poetry, short fiction, and essays have appeared in Lilith, Puerto del Sol, PresenTense, Nashim, the Forward, Zeek, Fiera Lingue, Other Voices, American Public Media, and elsewhere. She was awarded a Poetry Residency from the Bronx Writers Center, a BRIO Award for Poetry from the Bronx Council on the Arts, an Honorable Mention from the Ellen LaForge Poetry Prize, and held an arts fellowship at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. A longtime editor of Judaica, Amy now works as an independent book editor, writer, and publishing consultant.
