2024 Writing Activity Tent
Program & Presenter Info
All workshops are free and hosted in the Writing Activity Tent in Veterans Park. See the schedule below for details.
No prior registration is required except for WORKSHOP MATCHMAKING by SCRIBBLE HOUSE. For the matchmaking event, sign up below or at the Writing Activity Tent.
The workshops are open to writers of all levels, from the writing curious to the multi-published.
10:30am: “Ekphrastic Writing Workshop” by Dr. Brennan M. Thomas
Write poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction inspired by art for submission to The Ekphrastic Review‘s September Writing Challenge.
This workshop focuses on creating poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction inspired by paintings, photographs, sculpture, and murals for The Ekphrastic Review‘s biweekly writing challenge. Selected finalists will be published in The Ekphrastic Review‘s subsequent issue.
Dr. Brennan Thomas is a Professor of English at Saint Francis University, where she teaches courses in creative nonfiction, short fiction, and novel writing. She has published poetry and short stories in several literary magazines, including The Ekphrastic Review, Short Beasts, and Right Hand Pointing.
11:30am: “A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures – A Descriptive Writing Workshop” by Thomas Slatcoff
A Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures is a workshop on descriptive writing for those starting a writing journey or for those who have written a book or two.
The participant will gain or enhance their ability to use words to create images in the reader’s mind of the persons, places, or things in their writings from examples, discussion, and a practical exercise.
Thomas Slatcoff writes with a unique creative perspective so the reader can quickly escape reality. Or is it a mental picture of a future or anticipated event? An escape from reality or a prospect? The reader will decide. Enjoy the read!
12:30pm: “Share Your Story with Confidence” by T.J. Rose
Get ready to gain confidence and enthusiasm with T.J. Rose and you’ll be able to share your story with everyone.
While you have a story worth sharing, you come across some difficulties expressing your story with confidence. You will not need to spend much money on public speaking courses because T.J. Rose will give everyone his experience and enthusiasm for free! Get excited because you’ll be walking with confidence after this presentation!
From Johnstown, PA born and raised, T.J. Rose was non-verbal and developed unusual behavior that led to being diagnosed with Autism in 1992. With the amazing support of his single mother and others, he graduated from Forest Hills High School in 2008 and received a certificate from C.T.I. at Hiram G. Andrews in Material Management and Distribution in 2009. He was a featured speaker for Toastmasters International and a special guest speaker for the National Speakers Association of the Pittsburgh Chapter.
1:30pm: Poetry Workshop by Kathy Fieser
This poetry workshop will study the elements of poetry, complete a poem, and review it in class.
The first half of the class will review the tools, styles, and elements of poetry. Handouts and examples will be given. In the second half, students will receive prompts for a hands-on poetry workshop, and review their completed poems in class.
Kathy Fieser enjoys attending writer’s conferences and has won numerous awards. Her writing interests include poetry, devotions, children’s books, fiction, and non-fiction. She is in the process of publishing her first novel. Mother to four and grandmother to sixteen, she looks forward to celebrating the birth of her first great-grandchild.
2:30pm: “What Do Editors Wish Authors Knew—and Vice Versa!” by Debra Reynolds
A discussion of why everyone needs an editor, what to expect, different types of editing, and different types of editors.
Description: Every author needs an editor. We all need outside eyes to go over our work, as too often we miss our own mistakes through familiarity. But what does an editor DO? How is a freelance editor different from one who works for a publisher? What are the types of editing and how will they improve my work? Question/answer with discussion.
Debbie Reynolds is a voracious reader, writer, and dreamer from Tioga County, Pennsylvania. She is often found advocating for disability rights with emphasis on autism, epilepsy, and eldercare. She writes about the difficulties particular to rural areas, especially health care access and services. When not reading or writing, she’s usually found wandering the woods and celebrating the unique and beautiful character of the region she calls home.
3:30pm: Workshop Matchmaking by Scribble House
Connect with other writers who are looking for feedback groups or partners in this mini-workshop.
Feedback from other writers can be invaluable in honing your craft. Workshop Matchmaking aims to connect writers with beta readers or feedback partners based on their workshop preferences and writing style. Writers should come with a 1-2 page writing sample. In groups of 4-5, each writer will read their sample aloud then get comments from their group, with the goal of finding people they can exchange work with in the future. You can register to participate through 12pm on Saturday, 9/21, either in person at the Writing Activity Tent or online using this form: https://bit.ly/3YxyizF
Scribble House was founded in 2022 with the mission to connect writers in Western Pennsylvania with resources, community, and support to hone their craft, get published, and grow their writing career. You can learn more about Scribble House at their website, https://www.ScribbleHousePGH.com.