Printers Row Lit Fest Preview: Writing Workshops

By Betsy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 3, 2011 4:00PM

One of the most repeated pieces of advice we hear from writers is “If you want to be a writer, you must write. Every single day.” Right. Many recommend dedicating a certain amount of time each day for writing or setting a word count goal. Your writing will get better the more you practice the craft, but it will improve significantly with some mentored guidance and prompts. We love that some of the events at this weekend’s Printers Row Lit Fest are free writing workshops. Yesterday was the last day to reserve tickets to these events, but if you show up early to the events themselves, it’s likely you can still replace the spot of a no-show.

Saturday, June 4:

Oh the Places You will Go: Writing for Children Workshop: Esther Hershenhorn, author of S is for Story: A Writer's Alphabet is a veteran of both Printers Row and teaching children’s writing workshops. Her top “Writing for Children Truths” are: infinite writing and publishing possibilities exist, writers write, writers read, writers connect and writing and publishing opportunities abound. Might sound a bit vague, so you’ll have to attend her workshop to get more details.
10:30 a.m., University Center/Multi-Media Room

Writing Workshop: Fact vs. Fiction: The Joys of Writing Memoir: Zoe Fitzgerald Carter is the author of Imperfect Endings: A Daughter's Story of Love, Loss, and Letting Go, in which she tells the story of her strong-willed mother who decided she no longer wanted to live with Parkinson’s disease. She’ll also be speaking on the My Family, My Memoir panel at 3:30 in the University Center/Loop Room.
1 p.m., University Center/Multi-Media Room

Small Moments…Big Changes writing workshop: This workshop will be presented by Nicole Hollander, author of The Sylvia Chronicles: 30 Years of Graphic Misbehavior from Reagan to Obama. We’re not really sure what the workshop is about. Our fingers got tired of Googling and we didn’t have a chance to ask Hollander herself. But here are some of her comics, so that might help you get a feel for what she's like.
3 p.m., University Center/Multi-Media Room

Sunday, June 5

Memoir writing workshop: Carol LaChapelle, author of Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories, believes that every life is memoir worthy. Her book is a collection of 100+ exercises culled from her years of teaching that help readers access and describe the important people, places and events in their lives. Sounds like perfect workshop material.
3 p.m. University Center/Multi-Media Room