By: Deborah Johnson Wood
If you’re a wannabe writer who doesn’t know where to go to improve your technique or explore your skills, you can come out of the closet. Writing Passage, a Grand Haven-based nonprofit, will inspire your muse with classes for adult writers of all skill levels.
“The whole idea is to offer writing classes for adults, classes that aren’t affiliated with school,” says Tricia McDonald.
McDonald, an author and journalist, was an instructor at Writing Avenue last year when founder Mary Ann Donohue decided to sell the business. McDonald bought it in June and changed the name to Writing Passage.
The company offers classes that teach a diversity of writing styles for skill levels ranging from beginning writer to published author. For example, Beginning Steps in Writing introduces beginning writers to techniques for creating works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; My Story uses memories and images to jumpstart a story; Introduction to Novel Writing helps budding novelists complete a first draft.
Classes meet for 90 minutes each week for eight weeks. Class size is small so writers can receive personal attention. Each class works as a group, providing encouragement and feedback to each other.
“There are a lot of adults who enjoy writing or think they'd like to try writing, and Writing Passage creates a safe environment for them,” McDonald says. “Sometimes people just need to tell their story, they need to tell what has happened to them and not be judged about it.”
Classes take place at Imagine360 Art House, 403 Davis, Grand Haven. Cost is $150. The next session runs from January 14 through March 7, 2008.
Source: Tricia McDonald, Writing Passage
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.