News

Portland State University's Center for Excellence in Writing is now accepting applications for its Fall workshops: "Beginning Freelance Writing for Magazine and Newspapers," "Writing the Great American Ten-Minute Play" and "The Diving Earth: A Nature Writing Workshop." Local authors, playwrights and professionals in the field of publishing conduct the workshops, which are open to the public. Preregistration is required. For more information or to register for the workshops contact Sydney Thompson at 503-725-9422, sydney@pdx.edu or visit www.english.pdx.edu/cew.

Saturday, September 24, 2005, 12 - 3 p.m. (PSU Neuberger Hall, Room 407, 724 S.W. Harrison)

"Beginning Freelance Writing for Magazines and Newspapers," taught by Liz Nakazawa, is a workshop for beginning students interested in journalistic, non-fiction article writing who want to learn how to develop ideas for feature articles in magazines and newspapers. The class will explore the process of writing query letters to editors, researching interviewing, and writing and editing final articles with many in-class exercises. Liz Nakazawa is a local author who has been freelancing since 1984 and has published over 90 articles on such diverse subjects as food, gardening, education, small businesses and non-profit organizations. Her articles have appeared in The Oregonian, Oregon Business Magazine and PSU Alumni Magazine. Cost for the workshop is $50.

Saturday, October 8, 2005, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (PSU Neuberger Hall, Room 407, 724 S.W. Harrison)

"Writing the Great American Ten-Minute Play," taught by John A. Donnelly and Mark Saunders, is a workshop that will teach participants the basics of writing a 10-minute play, help them craft a play of their own and provide tips on how to find a home for the play once it's ready. Donnelly and Saunders have had their 10-minute plays performed more than 100 times throughout the country, from New York City to Portland, Oregon. Cost for the workshop is $75.

Saturday, November 19, 2005, 12 - 3 p.m. (PSU Neuberger Hall, Room 407, 724 S.W. Harrison)

"The Divine Earth: A Nature Writing Workshop," taught by Amy Klauke Minato, will discuss several examples of nature writing from authors such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and Annie Dillard, along with practicing some of the techniques observed. Nature writers look at details as well as the abstract though many lenses which can enrich the experience and strengthen writing. Amy Klauke Minato was awarded a 2004 Oregon Literary Fellowship for her poetry. Her book of nature poetry, The Wider Lens, will be published this fall by Ice River Press. Klauke Minato has taught nature literature through the University of Oregon and poetry classes through Fishtrap in eastern Oregon. Cost for the workshop is $50.

For Immediate Release (#05-121)

Source:Sydney Thompson (503-725-9422)
Center for Excellence in Writing