A 1-Day All-Genre Writing & Craft Workshop
Saturday, August 9, 1-4 PM
Have you ever sat down to write, only to find yourself distracted by the dishes to wash, the laundry to fold, the emails to send, the button to clasp and unclasp on your sweater? In this workshop, we welcome distraction as a natural, even beneficial, part of the writing process. We intersperse nature writing with an environmentally-conscious craft, visible mending.
Both nature writing and crafting inspire us to slow down our minds and focus on the smallest details — either on the page or (in the case of visible mending) through the movement of a needle. They urge us to use all our senses. Participants will respond to writing prompts, practice craft tips, and revise their work. They will gain tools for place-based writing while accessing new realms of creativity.
All writers are welcome here! Whether you seek to develop scenes and descriptions for a larger literary project, or to further your nature-journaling practice, this workshop is for you.
Please bring a piece of cotton clothing (preferably with a hole to mend!). Button-down shirts, flannels, or woven cotton dresses are ideal. We will bring extras. No prior experience with visible mending necessary.
$90 Members/$135 Nonmembers
Emma Zimmerman is an award-winning writer and journalist, based in Maine. Her journalism has appeared in publications that include Outside, Runner’s World, Taproot Magazine, and the Maine Monitor. Her literary nonfiction has received various awards, including a “notable nonfiction” selection in the Best American Essays anthology. Her essays have appeared in publications that include Huffpost and No Tokens. She has led creative writing workshops at NYU and Phillips Exeter Academy, where she was the 2023-24 George Bennet Fellow (writer-in-residence). Her debut book, Body Songs: a memoir of Long Covid Recovery, is forthcoming from Penguin in 2026.
Clare Magalaner is a fiber artist and non-profit worker based in Brooklyn, New York. She learned to knit in 3rd grade by watching YouTube videos, and has been an avid learner and teacher of fiber crafts since. Clare’s primary craft remains knitting, specifically garments. She learned visible mending several years ago, and is frequently called upon by friends to mend their clothing.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-200-7180 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due by April 20 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION