Here’s a list of WordPlay Writing Classes & Wordshops — some are currently being offered; all are available. WordPlay’s programs are flexible by design and can be customized to meet the needs of interested groups, whether you’re looking for a speaker to inspire your members regarding the power of language and story or a workshop for participants to explore their goals and dreams and/or learn about the benefits and rewards writing offers — mentally, physically, and spiritually. For rates and more information about how WordPlay can serve you or your group, call 704-364-4359 or email wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com. Want to take something that isn’t currently offered? Ask to have it scheduled. If there are at least six committed participants, it will be put on the calendar.

COASTAL WRITING RETREAT: Connect with Your Creativity at the Sunset Inn (Writing—and more—as Renewal and Inspiration) / 1 weekend session

Back by popular request: a weekend writing retreat full of activities to reconnect you to your creativity. Renew yourself, whether you are a practicing writer, closet writer, or as-yet-to-pick-up-the-pen writer! The techniques and prompts we’ll use will spur your imagination, and can be used to create nonfiction, fiction, and/or poetry—the choice is yours. There’ll be ample free time to savor your beautifully appointed private room with king-sized bed, private bath and balcony, the large porches with rocking chairs and swings, and the coastal setting. For more information on the Sunset Inn, which is a five-minute walk from Sunset Beach and is next to a peaceful marsh where herons and cranes live, see www.thesunsetinn.net. You’ll return home refreshed, with new ideas and energy for your writing. $400 includes retreat sessions, two nights’ lodging, two breakfasts and Saturday lunch (hotel tax and Saturday dinner at a local restaurant not included). You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 at retreat. Or order a copy now:

WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN:Friday, February 24 - Sunday, February 26, 2012
OR Friday, March 2 - Sunday, March 4, 2012
(Two separate sessions; choose the dates that work for you!)
TO REGISTER: Contact the Sunset Inn at 888.575.1001 or 910.575.1000. A popular event! - The Inn will hold your reservation with a credit card.

CRAFTSHOPS (The Craft of Writing/Revision Tools and Techniques) /
2 sessions each
Do you ever wonder how great writers weave words in such amazing ways, to such amazing effect? Yes, of course, there is art involved, but there is also practical craft. In these new craftshops, we'll be examining four areas of interest to all writers, regardless of genre. In the first session, we'll take a look at "rules" (which may have been "made to be broken," but only after they are thoroughly understood) and study examples by accomplished writers. You'll get guidelines and assignments so you can try your hand at new techniques in your own prose or poetry. In the second session, you'll bring your work back for feedback and additional tips, to solidify your knowledge and expertise.

CHARACTER CRAFTSHOP Have you heard the expression "S/he's a real character?" How can we have our characters—fictional and / or "nonfictional" -- come alive on the page? How are characters "developed"?
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

DIALOGUE CRAFTSHOP

"A wonderful workshop. Jam-packed with ready-to-use information. Thanks SO much. I am much more confident about dialogue techniques now that I recognize them."
Mary Herbert Love, professional travel writer

Few components of fiction and/or nonfiction can make or break your writing like dialogue! Not only does it have to be believable, it also affects pacing and plot. Do you know how to avoid "wooden" dialogue? And all 9 ways to alter and punctuate, to show off your characters' words to their best, most polished effect? If not, come find out! 4 sessions
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

POINT OF VIEW CRAFTSHOP: Every piece of writing has at least one point of few. Some have many. But are you choosing wisely between limited and omniscient, first, second, and third persn? And "Who's on first?" (If you've never listened to Abbottand Costlo's 1940's comedy radio classic (or if you'd like to hear it again), check it out here.) Point of view can be tricky, but it's also fun, and fascinating!
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

TENSE CRAFTSHOP: Which is the best tense for your latest work, past or present? How, when, and why should you switch from one tense to another? What the heck is "future perfect progressive"? And when is a verb not a verb? You may have learned all of this in 10th grade, but isn't a refresher course in order? Who knew that tenses don't have to make you tense? And that managing them well is a key to powerful, elegant writhing?
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

DELICIOUS MEMORIES (Writing about Food) / 1 session
Food not only nurtures and sustains us, it’s a rich source of metaphor and memory! We’ll explore our connections with food as we write of when, where, what, with whom, how — and even why — we ate! You can use your food writings to create a family cookbook, creative nonfiction, poetry, a food blog, etc. -- or just for your own pleasure.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this workshop be offered, or to arrange to have this workshop held for your group or organization.

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY (Writing Inspired by Visual Images)
Are you ready to preserve the stories your pictures could tell, for
yourself and or future generations? Would you enjoy using photographs,
paintings, and other visual art as writing inspiration? Come
learn foolproof methods for capturing treasured family stories and
creating memorable fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry from
images. Explore the use of visual images as a means to create powerful fiction, non-fiction, and/or poetry. Preserve the stories your photographs could tell. We’ll look at ways successful writers have used images to inspire their works, including Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees. Participants are encouraged to bring images of their own they would like to work with, especially photographs. A wide variety of images will be provided as well. You’ll take home drafts of essays, memoir, poems, and/or fiction and facility with the playful and profound magic of images as prompts. Expect beautiful results from this playful, yet profound process. All levels welcome.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT POETRY
(But Were Afraid to Ask) (Poetry Knowledge, Tools and Techniques) /
2 sessions
Do you sometimes find poetry confusing or intimidating? Or do you enjoy writing and reading it, but feel uncertain about whether you're "doing it right"? Or would you like a more thorough understanding of what makes a great poem (yours or someone else's)? Then this poetry primer is for you. Expect a lively good time, encounters with poems that run the gamut from profound to profoundly ridiculous, and the opportunity to ask any question you've ever had about poetry. You'll also get a critique, complete with revision recommendations, on one of your own poems if you like.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

GET YOUR WORK OUT THERE (Publishing Your Writing) / 4 sessions
A hands-on workshop for any writer who would like to submit their essays, stories, articles, and/or poems for publication and 1) doesn't know how, 2) doesn't get around to it, 3) feels a) intimidated, b) confused, c) overwhelmed, d) uninspired, or 4) all of the above! By the end of class, at least one of your pieces, accompanied by the infamous SASE, will be IN THE MAIL.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

THE GIFT OF MEMOIR: WRITING PERSONAL AND FAMILY STORIES (Preserving Family History / Writing for and about Your Family / The Art of Memoir) / single or multiple sessions
Our life stories are a precious legacy. Putting them in writing is a gift to all who know and love us—they can be treasured and enjoyed for generations to come. It is also a gift to ourselves. As best-selling author Rachel Naomi Remen says in her book Kitchen Table Wisdom, facts bring us to knowledge, but stories bring us to wisdom. If you are interested in writing family and/or personal life stories—those significant tales of adventure, transition, love, loss, and triumph, as well as lovely everyday moments from times past or the present, come learn specific tools and techniques to retrieve and record them. $35/session.
WHERE: Covenant Presbyterian Recreation Center, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, 28204. Click here for map.
WHEN: Thursdays, 10 am - noon, january - April, 2012.
TO REGISTER: This class is currently full; email Maureen to check availability and/or request a spot in an upcoming class.

GIFT OF MEMOIR - SINGLE SESSION:

THE HEALING POWER OF WORDS (Writing As a Healing Process) /
5 sessions
What benefits can writing provide – physically, mentally, spiritually? Are some ways of writing more healing than others? And can we create quality literary work as we heal? In this workshop that incorporates Dr. James Pennebaker’s ground-breaking ideas, we’ll discuss and implement ways to use writing as a transformational tool. And, if you’re looking, you’ll find the genesis of new poetry, creative non-fiction, and/or fiction. Warning: Laughter likely. Inspiration guaranteed. 5 sessions
WHERE: Myers Park High School (through CPCC)
WHEN: Mondays, February 13 - March 12, 2012, 7 to 9 pm
TO REGISTER: TBA

JUMPSTART! (Generating New Writing; Learning New Ways to Enter the Writing Process) One or more sessions
Painters have colors. Potters have clay. And we writers have words. Our job — and what a lovely job it is — is to love them. $20/1 session. If you’ve forgotten the joy of language, join Maureen Ryan Griffin to jumpstart your writing in this workshop filled with wordplay. After all, play is the way we learn best –we’re free to question, to experiment, to break through to something new, all our own. Surprise yourself! If you don’t yet have Spinning Words into Gold, you’ll need a copy, available for $23.54 (includes tax).
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this workshop be offered, or to arrange to have it held for your group or organization.

THE MICRO-ESSAY: TELLING YOUR TRUTH SHORT AND WELL (Essay / Nonfiction Writing) / multiple sessions

“I loved the last (MicroEssay) class; listening to others read their work, hearing your suggestions, the assignments, reading the stories in "IN SHORT" with a different awareness, and your enthusiasm for writing is infectious."
Mimi Sherman, Director of breatheMeditation (www.breathemeditation.com)

(Inspired by a workshop I took with writer Liz Rosenberg!) Come explore the nonfiction equivalent of "flash fiction." We'll take a look at areas that are naturals for this genre: Memoir, nature writing, science, history, and food. All levels of writers are welcome—As Liz Rosenberg says, "when it comes to the blank page, we are all beginners." We'll discuss some great samples of micro-works and create drafts through in-class exercises. You are also welcome to share your own brief nonfiction pieces with the class. $25/session or $75/3 sessions.
WHERE: Ballantyne Area
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

PICTURING YOUR SOUL (Collaging & Writing as Self-exploration) /
1 session
A workshop combining intuition and imagery for anyone who enjoys self-exploration, using the process of SoulCollage® as described in Seena B. Frost’s book, SoulCollage.” We’ll write as well, to interpret the language of symbols, dreams, and archetypes, to awaken inner wisdom, and to explore the mystery at work in our lives. Also discussed will be the use of visual images to create powerful fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry. $75 includes lunch and supplies. Repeater's special: If you've taken this workshop before, pay $35.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

THE POWER OF INTENTION (Writing--and More--as a Powerful Access to Fulfilling Dreams and Goals) 1 session
Sure you want to ______ (Fill in the blank with the creative pursuit you wish you engaged in more often), but why? What’s in it for you? Discover how freeing it is to get clarity about what "riches" your creative pursuit provides. Tap into the power of intention as you learn to deliberately (and imaginatively) design your creative life. We'll also take a peek at what hidden beliefs have been getting in your way. Through a playful, profound series of hands-on exercises, you'll kindle joy and energy that will fuel your creativity, no matter what your dreams. A writer who took this workshop a few Januarys ago whose book project languished in a drawer for over 20 years published her bookin the year she took this workshop! What will open up for you in 2012? You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold.

PROJECT: BOOK (Writing/Publishing Your Book-length Writing Project) /
2 sessions
A hands-on workshop for any writer who would like to write and/or submit a book for publication and 1) doesn’t know how, 2) doesn’t get around to it, 3) feels a) intimidated, b) confused, c) overwhelmed, d) uninspired, 4) all of the above! You will gain working knowledge of the steps you need to take and the procedures and paperwork that are necessary (query vs. cover letter, book proposal, overview, synopsis, outline), as well as an introduction to today's publishing world (major publishers, university presses, small presses, self-publishing, and print-on-demand) $65. Note: Class doesn’t include critique of your book manuscript.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this workshop be offered, or to arrange to have it held for your group or organization.

REAPING WRITING GOLD (Tapping into the Power of Intention) /
1 session
Sure you want to write, but…why? What’s in it for you? Discover how freeing it is to get clarity about what "riches" you'd like writing to provide. Tap into the power of intention as you learn to deliberately (and imaginatively) design your writing future.We'll also take a peek at what hidden beliefs have been getting in the way of your unbridled success. Through a playful, profound series of hands-on exercises, you'll kindle joy and energy that will fuel your writing, no matter what your genre or your dreams. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

REVISION: THE ART OF CRAFTING AND CRITIQUING WRITING (Polishing Writing to Prepare for Publication)
Want to make your writing “sing”? Wish your work would catch an editor’s eye? If you’ve ever wondered what you don’t know about improving the quality of your writing, or would like to contribute to other writers by providing a critique, this half-day workshop is for you. Explore ways to revise your own writing and to get and give feedback that provides maximum value. Bring your own work for critiquing. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 in class. Or order a copy now:

WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

ROMANCING YOUR WRITING (Fueling a Current or Languishing Writing Project / Rekindling Your Writing Passion / Getting Unstuck) / 1 session
Maybe you have a writing project (or several) in mind or underway. Maybe you’re stuck. Maybe you're uninspired. Maybe you just miss having writing be a part of your life. Here, in honor of Valentine’s Day, is a workshop to rekindle your writing passion. Bring your working projects, abandoned projects, and/or as yet to be begun projects, and watch what happens as you, through a series of playful and profound exercises, "show them some love." $35 includes supplies.
WHERE: The Respite, 4919 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205
WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, from 7 pm to 9 pm
TO REGISTER: Click the link below to register through The Respite. http://therespite.org/Workshops.asp

SEASONAL WRITING RETREATS (Writing — and More — as Renewal / Creating New Writing) / 1 session each
Renew and delight yourself. Seasonal retreats are opportunities to create new pieces of writing and/or new possibilities for our lives. Enjoy various seasonal prompts; they have not failed to elicit beautiful material that can be shaped into essays, poems, stories, or articles. After a communal lunch, you’ll have private time which can be used to walk a wooded trail, collage, work with a piece of writing from the morning, etc. You’ll take home new ideas, new drafts, and new possibilities. $80 includes box lunch and supplies.
WHERE: Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, 9704 Mallard Creek Road
WHEN: Winter Solstice: Saturday, December 17, 2011, 10 am - 4 pm
TO REGISTER: Click here to download a printable registration form to mail in.
Or register online. Just click on the "add to cart" button under the retreat you'd like to attend:

WINTER SOLSTICE RETREAT:

SPINNING WORDS INTO GOLD (Fulfilling Writing Dreams and Goals; Creating New Writing; Revising and Polishing Your Writing) / 6 sessions Does writing fulfill you? Do you wish you were writing more? Jumpstart your writing life and learn to keep your words flowing. Learn specific techniques and exercises to create nonfiction, poetry and/or fiction. Whether you would like to keep a journal for your own personal growth, spin stories for your loved ones, or further a career as a professional writer, experience the satisfaction of developing a writing practice that works for you—come spin words into gold. $159 for 6 sessions. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 at first class. Or order a copy now:

WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have this class held for your group or organization.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: YOUR WRITING (Fulfilling Writing Dreams & Goals; Creating New Writing; Revising & Polishing Your Writing) /
12 sessions
This class is designed to fulfill your writing dreams and projects. You'll set goals and support structures and watch your writing flow! You'll also get feedback on your work (any genre) and learn revision tools. An opportunity to do just that — jumpstarting your pen and providing the knowledge and inspiration you need to write, whatever your preferred genre. Each week, writing prompts will generate material for new writing or further a piece in process. Through examples of accomplished writers, you’ll learn techniques to aid you right where you are in the process. $309/12 sessions. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 in class. Or order a copy now:

WHERE: Covenant Presbyterian Recreation Center, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, 28204. Click here for map.
WHEN: Thursdays, September - December, 7 pm - 9 pm
TO REGISTER: SORRY, THIS CLASS IS ALREADY IN SESSION. IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE PUT ON A LIST FOR THE NEXT SESSION, EMAIL wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com.

WORDPLAY WORDSHOPS (Creating New Writing / Writing Inspiration / Writing and Revision Tools and Techniques) / 1 - 3 sessions
If you want to write, procrastinate no more-these workshops will jumpstart your pen and provide the knowledge and inspiration you need to write, whatever your preferred genre. Each week, a writing prompt or two will generate material for a new writing or further a piece you're working on. Through examples of writers at all stages of the process, you’ll learn techniques to aid you right where you are in the process. For fun, for fulfillment, and for furthering your writing, sign up for one, two, or all of these sessions. $25/session. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 in class. Or order a copy now:

WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this workshop be offered, or to arrange to have it held for your group or organization.

WRITE LIKE A GENIUS (Expanding Our Creativity / Learning New Tools for Our Writing and Our Lives / Creating New Writing)
Discover your own genius as you learn to apply seven fascinating approaches of Leonardo da Vinci to your writing. These techniques enliven non-fiction, poetry and fiction. Expect fun, inspiration and writing galore in your preferred genre, with opportunities to share your work. You’ll need a copy of Michael Gelb’s How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.
WHERE: John C. Campbell Folk School, North Carolina Mountains
WHEN: Sunday, June 3 - Saturday, June 9, 2012
TO REGISTER: Click the link to register through John C. Campbell Folk School. https://www.folkschool.org/index.php?section=class_detail&class_id=5627

WRITE YOURSELF (Creating New Writing / Expanding Your Relationship to Self, Others, and the World)
Reap writing's benefits - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual through exploring and expressing what matters most to you. Ideal for beginners and those interested in renewing and expanding their writing and their relationship to self, others and the world—for personal growth or publication. $120/5 sessions.
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have it held for your group or organization.

WRITING FROM YOUR HEART (Creating New Writing; Expanding Your Relationship to God, Self, Others, and the World) / single or multiple sessions
Reap writing's benefits - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual through exploring and expressing what matters most to you. Ideal for beginners and those interested in renewing and expanding their writing and their relationship to God, self, others and the world -- for personal growth or publication. $15/session. You’ll need a copy of Spinning Words into Gold, available for $23.54 in class. Or order a copy now:

WHERE: St. John’s Baptist Church, 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204
WHEN: Wednesdays, November 30 and December 14 (no class 12/7), 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm
TO REGISTER: Click here to download a printable registration form to mail in.
Or register online. Just click on the correct "add to cart" button below:

WRITING FROM YOUR HEART - SINGLE SESSION:

YOUR WRITING TEMPERAMENT (Claiming Your Gifts, Strengthening Your Writing) / 2 sessions
You were born with a gift for language in the form of your own particular writing temperament, according to poet Gregory Orr – story, structure, music, or imagination. Orr asserts that we grow as writers by developing that temperament, but also by nurturing the others. In this new workshop, discover what your own natural temperament is – and learn how to strengthen your use of all four. Fun, fascinating, fruitful!
WHEN: Not currently scheduled. Contact wordplaysupport@maureenryangriffin.com to request that this class be offered again, or to arrange to have it held for your group or organization.