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diverse group of eager students gathered for The School of Writing 2010, held at CMU’s Shaftesbury campus, and benefitted from personal interaction with renowned instructors and published authors visiting from across Canada and abroad. This year’s School offered sessions in Writing for Children and Young Adults with Anita Daher, Poetry with Barbara Nickel, Fiction with Margaret Sweatman, and Life Writing with Joanne Klassen.
“The School of Writing has helped hundreds of writers receive important support and guidance, and we were delighted once again to offer such a high calibre of instruction and guest speakers,” says School Director Sue Sorensen, Assistant Professor of English at CMU who, along with 2010 School Administrator Michael Van Rooy, maintained the School’s commitment to providing a supportive and challenging environment for writers of many skill and experience levels.
Klassen’s Life Writing class, which she has taught at the School since 2007, was again a popular class. As founder and director of Winnipeg’s Heartspace Writing School and a published author, Klassen has helped hundreds of writers and aspiring writers move closer to their goals.
“Many people have a story they want to share, to write,” says Klassen. “This class helps them get there.”
Through Klassen’s own Transformative Writing™ process, students learn valuable activities and tools to help them move past the “inner critic,” increase their confidence, and bring motivation and satisfaction to the writing process.
“I want students to delight in the pieces they’ve written and become excited about the process of writing more,” says Klassen.
Lana Shepherd, who has taken Life Writing with Klassen three times, says she’s impressed with how the classes have changed her writing. “I’ve been writing for 10 years, and have taken other classes, but I’d always think, ‘Who wants to read this?’ and give up. But Joanne’s techniques and the comfort level of the group make it easy to open up, get that story out, and go places you might not otherwise go,” she shares.
Klassen incorporates new material each year to keep the class “fresh” for returning students like Shepherd.
“This year’s focus was ‘forces that have shaped us’,” Klassen explains. “Significant people, places, events, and challenges have shaped our lives; writing about them is very satisfying. The class is a safe place for that.”
Brian Hay, a 2010 class student and lawyer who has been writing for 10 years, would agree. “I was able to write freely, breaking through the boundaries that held me back, and share that writing with others. I’ve gained a whole new perspective on my writing and am inspired to do more, to enjoy my writing more.”
Hay was new to not only the class, but also CMU. “I had no idea what to expect,” he says. “But I was very impressed and loved the atmosphere.”
The atmosphere is part of the appeal of Klassen’s class. Students are drawn into an intimate circle of likeminded writers offering support, feedback, and encouragement.
“The class often becomes close-knit and stays in touch,” adds Klassen. “This year, we had an extremely cohesive group that has already held reunions since the class ended.”
“It was safe, encouraging, motivational, and awe-inspiring,” says Hay. “We became great friends and bonded over writing. It was a spiritual experience for me. I recommend it highly.”
For program details, visit www.cmu.ca/schoolofwriting.
12 summer 2010