Womanscapes:
Painting Our Lives With Words

Everyone has a story to tell, be it a recounting of a tough childhood choice, a teenage triumph or marital melodrama. For most writers, beginning through advanced level, the most difficult part of writing is deciding where to start. Using a unique art metaphor, this course offers a fresh approach to how writers can breathe new life into a style gone stale, work through the paralysis of writer’s block, re-think a belief that they somehow “can’t write,” or try writing for the first time.

Based on recognized cognitive studies, this course takes a decidedly female approach to building a memorable story. The instructor, a published author and fine artist, will introduce her proprietary “DEMI” method, which draws upon classical drawing studio teaching techniques as they apply to writing. This method codifies a straightforward approach to breaking a story idea down into its essential components, analyzing how these parts fit together, modifying those parts to alter the message as it is intended to be received, then interpreting a personal expression of the original structure.

This course provides a logical, step-by-step method of taking an idea from conception through finished story. Students explore the concepts of alphabet, language and mechanics as they relate to every mode of communication, and apply those concepts in formulating their own personal writing styles. Veteran writers learn a new approach to story structure, while beginners and advanced writers alike will gain insight into the importance of: exercising firsthand observation of subjects; capturing the telling detail; the power of point of view; and other venerated tools in a writer’s kit.

This class will be taught during the Fall 2002-2003 semester at the Community School of New Hope-Solebury. Class times are 8 sessions on Monday evenings from 6-9 PM, beginning September 23 and running through November 11. Course fee is $60 per adult.

If you are interested in signing up for the class and haven’t received the course catalog in the mail, please request one from Nancy Lawson at Bucks County Community College. You can contact her by phone at 215-497-8735 or via email at lawsonn@bucks.edu.

Class size is limited to allow for a quality learning experience, so sign up early.