Welcome to Carol Cooley’s Writing Workshop Blog. This site will follow my Prompt Writing Workshops and post updates and events. I am a writer from Wake Forest, North Carolina. I write essays, short stories, and I am currently working on a short story collection. You can learn more about me and my writing here: www.carolcooley.com
Writing is something I must do. I have a library of journals in my home – stacks of them collected through the years that carry raw stories of my joys, losses, and mundane happenings. I still journal almost every morning before the sun comes up. When I decided I wanted to write with others I needed a space that was safe – a place where I could write openly and where my writing would be respected and valued for the spirit and vulnerability I poured into it. I found this place with one of my early writing mentors and her prompt writing workshop. Through group writing I built confidence in my creative expression and learned from other writers. I am now a trained workshop leader using the Amherst Writers and Artists method.
Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) was founded by Pat Schneider. In my workshops we will focus on generating new material from one or more writing prompts that I provide (a photo, trinkets, poem…etc.) Writers will write for roughly 20-30 minutes and the group will come back together to share their work, if they choose. Sharing is not mandatory. Since we are sharing raw, fresh work there will be no criticism. Feedback will be positive and state what is working well. After one round, we will break for a light snack then write again. These groups are lively, compassionate, energetic, and sometimes very funny. We also have the option to bring work for a group critique.
Love your site Carol! Wish I could come to some groups . . . 🙂
Thanks so much, Joslyne! I feel the same – I wish we lived closer so I could join your groups too. Who knows, maybe someday…