Write It Out: A Class for LGBT Writers
Five Saturdays, May 30-June 27, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. San Francisco Offered through the Writing Salon Enroll at: www.writingsalons.com $185 members/$215 non-members
In the last decades, LGBT poets and writers have broken through multiple barriers. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex characters have found a place not only in the work of writers who identify as queer, but also in mainstream movies, television, novels and nonfiction. Emerging LGBT writers have numerous positive role models and more opportunities for exposure than ever before. At the same time, though, we still need to create supportive and safe places where we can incubate creative work that explores our communities, relationships, sexuality, and other issues relevant to our lives.
This class will be a space for lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans writers to create new work, share and receive feedback, and develop their literary craft. Participants will be able to work on their fiction, nonfiction or poetry through in-class exercises and discussion. Between classes you will be given assignments to generate new work and help you develop a strong and ongoing writing practice. We’ll also look to the work of other queer writers for inspiration such as Dorothy Allison, Leslie Feinberg, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Sarah Waters, and David Sedaris.
Instructor Elaine Beale has taught creative writing for more than a decade and has been an activist around LGBT and social justice issues for all of her adult life. Her first novel, Murder in the Castro, was published in 1997, and her second novel, Another Life Altogether, is forthcoming from Spiegel & Grau, a division of Random House. In 2007 she was selected as the winner of a Poets and Writers’ California statewide fiction contest, and was also one of three finalists for the Penelope Niven Creation Nonfiction Award (Center for Women Writers, National Literary Awards). Her work has been published in several anthologies. Elaine has a graduate degree in Education from the University of London (UK), and is a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing candidate at the University of British Columbia.
What Students say about Elaine’s classes:
Elaine’s is one of the most organized, inspiring and supportive writing teachers I’ve ever worked with. I would recommend her classes enthusiastically and without reservation. Tracy
Just a little note to tell you how much Carrie and I enjoyed Elaine’s “Busting through Writer’s Block” class on Saturday. She is excellent and the group was fantastic. Greg
I took two superb classes at Writing Salon this last term. One was a seminar on Writer’s Block with Elaine Beale. She was fantastic, giving great tangible ways to get around a block if not actually smash it. I wish she taught more classes in SF. I always tell everyone I know who’s even considering writing to head to you, to skip MFA programs etc. It’s all here at the Writing Salon. Margaret
Elaine, I’m thrilled and owe it all to your support and enthusiasm… Your class was transformational, and I continue to be grateful for your instruction, style and how you handled us with gentleness and generosity. You are a gifted teacher. Thanks again, Christie