Teaching Again!
Karen Gettert Shoemaker
Friday, June 3, 2022
I have loved getting Larksong up and running. I love the challenges and meeting new people or working with old friends – it’s all good. Well, almost. The truth is there’s not enough time in every day to get everything I want to do done, or even started. And sometimes I miss the things I used to do regularly – no I’m not talking about taking afternoon naps (though I’m not necessarily NOT talking about afternoon naps, either).
No, today’s topic, Class, is teaching. I miss teaching. I miss the kinds of conversations I have with writers when we’re all together studying a story and examining the method to the magic and learning to create it ourselves. I love that stuff!
So, like my mom and dad used to tell me, if you want something done, just do it!
And so, I’m doing it. For the first time in over a year I am back in the classroom this summer! I’ve created a class called “Finding Inspiration: Writing from Art, Song, History and Life” and I’m truly excited about it. It’s a four-week class that runs from 6 to 7:30 pm Mondays, July 11, 18, 25, August 1. The goal is to have it in-house at Larksong. However, we’re mindful of the Covid numbers and concerns so there is an on-line option if you sign up and contact me with a request.
I’m certainly not the only one teaching classes this summer at Larksong. One of our goals is to introduce new teachers and writers to our Nebraska base and our lineup of classes in the next few months do exactly that. Our teachers this session come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, and Vermont. Some names may be familiar to you, and some may be new.
Pam Sourelis, for example, has taught a class with us before. She keeps her classes small, which is great for that one-on-one attention that we all crave, and they pack a punch. As one of her previous students described her experience, “I took Pam’s journal writing workshop and loved, loved, loved it. It is the gift that keeps on giving. I find a useful practice in so many ways with benefits I didn’t even anticipate. Pam is an excellent teacher. She keeps the class on-target and engaging…and inspires you to take what you learn and grow with it. Great stuff!” Her class on Journaling is so grounding, and I know I need that these days. She’s joining us for two Wednesdays, 7-9 pm CDT starting July 13.
Our Visiting Writers Series that we are just getting started has brought two great teachers to us, James Crews and Nancy McCabe. James led us off last week with a hybrid reading – in-house readers and online readers – then followed up with an online workshop. It was so successful we decided to do it again! You can sign up here for his one-day webinar on Friday, July 1st at 11 am CDT.
Nancy McCabe, one of my favorite nonfiction writers, is going to be in the house on June 14th.
First with a writing workshop that you need if you write nonfiction or memoir, or just want to learn some new techniques. Her workshop “Bringing Memoir Alive Using Techniques from Fiction” will meet at Larksong at 1 pm.
At 6 pm on the same day, Nancy McCabe and Suzanne Ohlmann Are In The House! Technically they will be reading in our new patio space, but it’s all Larksong. Local singer Pam Barger will be joining them and it is going to be great! (BRING YOUR LAWNCHAIRS FOR THAT EVENT!)
In an almost embarrassment of riches, I’m going to be teaching again this fall – in Greece! That one is not a Larksong sponsored event, but it is open to the public and I’d love to see you there! You can read all about it here.
There’s more happening all the time so check in on our website periodically to see what’s new. Have a great summer, y’all! I hope to see you here, there, and anywhere!