If you’re a budding writer in Boulder looking for a writing workshop to help you improve your skills in composing poetry, or in novel writing then this post is for you.
On the other hand, if you’re a parent in Boulder looking for a writing camp for your kids over the summer, there’s also something for you, as is there for any students who want to join a degree program in creative writing.
Continue reading to learn about 4 top writing classes in Boulder, CO.
1. 6 Week Poetry Chapbook
6 Week Poetry Chapbook is a writing class that is being offered by Boulder Writing Studio. Boulder Writing Studio itself has been in operation since 2010. Founded by novelist and screenwriter Robert Gatewood to support local people to develop their writing skills, Boulder Writing Studio is made up of a strong team consisting of experienced writing instructors, novelists, screenwriters and poets that work with individuals to help them achieve their creative objectives. Running writing workshops such as these is a key activity of Boulder Writing Studio.
In the 6 Week Poetry Chapbook writing workshop, you’ll have an opportunity to write new poems that align with your existing collection, or revise and develop poems you’re already working on, so that you’re progressing towards a solid set of poems that are unique and carry your own distinct voice. If your goal is to publish an entire manuscript of poems, then this workshop can also help to kickstart that process. At the very least, you can expect to leave the workshop with a chapbook of poems that you can submit to competitions and publications and share with your loved ones. Take a look at this page for more details.
The 6 Week Poetry Chapbook is taken by Dr Lisa Donovan, a current teacher at Trinidad State Junior College and author of the poetry book entitled Red of Split Water. The course runs from 11th July until 15th August and the times for the sessions are 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. The fee for the course is $305 for members of Boulder Writing Studio, and $335 for non-members. You can register for the poetry writing program here.
2. Summer Camp: Kids Creative Writing
If you’re looking for a creative writing summer camp for kids to keep your little ones busy over the summer holidays, then Boulder Writing Studio is offering one of these. A goal of this summer writing camp is to give children the experience of living the life of a writer. Using Boulder Writing Studio’s premises on Pearl Street as a basis, the summer camp takes place over 5 days during which participants will get experience of writing in cafes, going to bookstores and getting inspiration for writing through walking around Boulder. During the camp, children will develop a grounding in the various aspects of writing stories, including characters, settings, plots and will be able to work on novellas, short stories and graphic novels. The camp is for children aged 9 – 13 and will be a taken by Chris Thomas who is Director of the Boulder Writing Studio Summer Creative Writing Camps. Some upcoming dates for the course where places are still available are 25th – 29th June and 23rd – 29th July. The fee for the course is $385 if would you like to send just one of your kids to the camp. If you want to send any more of your children, the fee for their places would be $350 each. You can register here.
3. The Boulder June Writing Projects Retreat
If you’re looking for an extended writing retreat, there’s still some places left on session 2 of The Boulder June Writing Projects Retreat taking place from 15th – 25th June. An annual retreat suitable for writers who have a current writing project or concept (e.g. an unfinished novel, the blueprints of a memoir or at the beginning of a collection of poems, or a book that is almost ready to be sent out to a literary agent or publisher), you are able to get away from daily life for 10 days to do nothing but write. Taken by Max Reagan, a teacher, a published poet and writer, and owner of Hollowdeck Press, LLC, the retreat involves getting together in small groups once a day to talk through your project and discuss work that needs to be done to achieve your goals. A Salon will also be held every other evening to have a meal with other participants and share your progress.
The retreat also includes two private sessions with Max, one at the start of the program and another at the end, to go over your project in detail. The fee for the retreat is $1500, which includes daily class sessions, 2 private coaching sessions with Max and 5 dinners. Do note this price doesn’t include plane fares, accommodation or meals. A deposit of $450 is also required. Take a look at this page for full details of this retreat, what a typical day consists of, what you can expect to learn from it, about logistics and information on how and to register.
4. Creative Writing at University of Colorado, Boulder
If you’re thinking about taking an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing or an Master in Fine Arts in the same subject, you may want to take a look at the University of Colorado Creative Writing Program, which was started by Peter Michelson, Sidney Goldfarb, Reg Saner, and Marilyn Krysl in 1975. Over the years, not only did other renowned writers such as Ronald Sukenick, Steve Katz, Ed Dom and Clarence Major join the founders, many other writers did too. During its history, the University of Colorado Creative Writing Program has also been officially connected with the publishing projects such as The Fiction Collective, Black Ice and The American Book Review and Subito Press, among others.
The program is designed in a way where you have the opportunity to study creative writing and practice it across different genres (nonfiction, fiction, playwriting and poetry) and connect with creative writers on a similar journey to you. You will also be able to attend talks, seminars and readings and access opportunities to get published. You can expect to receive a high quality level of mentoring from the current faculty, which is award-winning and is made of individuals such as Jeffrey Deshell, Noah Eli Gordon, Elisabeth Sheffield, and Julie Carr, among other staff members. If you’re looking for a undergraduate creative writing degree program, take a look at this page and if you’re interested in an MFA course, take a look here. Do also take a look at the requirements of the university for completing the creative writing program.
Do you run a writing class in Boulder, Colorado? Please tell us about your workshop in the comments box below.
Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of Writing Tips Oasis.