The short essay meant for live reading or radio is an elegant art form with its own particular limitations and possibilities. Like poetry, it is concise, vivid, and capable of packing an enormous emotional punch. Like singing, it is a kind of performance that involves controlled breathing and uses your whole body. Like memoir, it is by its very nature deeply personal. If you have ever stayed in your stopped car to hear the end of a commentary by Bailey White or Donald McCaig, you know that an artful short essay can make you laugh out loud, bring you to tears, and stay with you for the rest of the day or even longer.                       

Learn how to craft your own observations, opinions, and insights into succinct, memorable pieces suitable for radio broadcast. We'll spend some time discussing what makes a radio essay different from other forms of writing and performing. We'll explore the many and varied inspirations for short essays -- from childhood memories to pet peeves to passionate beliefs. We'll talk about how to approach your local radio station with essay ideas and audio samples, and how to record an essay in the studio. We'll listen to some great essays, gather ideas by using writing exercises, shape free writing into essays, read aloud -- and revise, revise, revise. (Producing a polished two-minute essay may be one of the best editing exercises there is.) You'll leave Ghost Ranch with at least a few well-crafted essays and an appreciation for every precious second of airtime. For more information, visit www.motherwitdesign.com.

October 10 - 16, 2010       Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu

Registration fee: $350 + housing & meals
Before August 15: Save $100 

Colleen Anderson, Charleston, WV Writer and performer, Colleen spent four years as a regular essayist for West Virginia Public Radio. Her commentaries have aired on a network that reaches six states and have won two national prizes from Public Radio News Directors, Inc.

Online Registration Form - payment required.

 Abiquiu 2010 Registration Form 128.55 Kb - fill in and submit by regular mail.