Writing and Thinking Workshop
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this a creative writing workshop?
A: Yes and no. Unlike typical creative writing programs that concentrate on poetry or fiction, this workshop offers students the opportunity to work in a range of fiction and nonfiction forms, including poems, narratives, and essays, for the purpose of strengthening their writing and thinking skills. As such, it’s more of a “creative thinking” workshop.
Q: How much writing can students expect to do, and what kinds?
A: The workshop is an intense writing experience. Most students will fill a notebook (or more) during the two weeks, so only students who love to write (and write by hand) should apply. Daily writing ranges from reflective journals to stories, poems, personal narratives, and nontraditional essays. The focus is on informal, exploratory writing to generate drafts, define topics for discussion, and make connections between what students already know and new ways of thinking. Although students will have some choice in the kinds of writing they do, the workshop is not appropriate for students who want to focus exclusively on a single genre, or work solely on pieces they have already begun before the workshop.
Q: Will this workshop improve students’ writing for college?
A: Yes. This workshop is modeled on the Workshop in Language and Thinking required of all students entering Bard College in New York. Therefore, it is designed to prepare students for the kinds of writing and thinking they will be asked to do in college. The workshop helps students develop confidence, a stronger and more flexible voice, and proficiency in using writing as a tool for exploring ideas. The workshop does not focus on improving students’ grammar or mastery of traditional academic writing. The workshop is also not appropriate for students who need remedial work.
Q: What is the daily schedule like?
A: See a sample schedule.
