GET IT ON THE PAGE: A CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

Have you always dreamed of writing the great American novel? Or maybe you have the beginnings of the next big movie blockbuster but it is collecting dust in a drawer? It’s time to start writing, and this class will help you! Marilyn’s fun, in-class writing exercises will help you unlock the tantalizing tales inside your head. She’ll also show you how to create scintillating conflict, lively characters, dynamic dialogue, and settings that feel so real, they leap off the page. The time will fly by, and you’ll generate a ton of new material for revision and publication. You’ll also walk away with a special writer’s block busting toolkit to help you keep the creative spark alive on your own. Beginning and experienced writers of all genres are welcome.

	Instructor: Marilyn Friedman Tuesday, May 22, 2012 7:00 p.m. -10:30 p.m. Cost: $90 (Includes snacks and tea) Location: Writing Pad East
	Saturday, June 9, 2012 2:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Cost: $90 (Includes snacks and tea) Location: Writing Pad East

About Marilyn Friedman:
Marilyn Friedman has taught writing in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles for the past seven years, including classes at Pixar, Walt Disney Studios, The Writing Salon, and the Southern California Writers Conference.  She is the founder and lead instructor at Writing Pad.  Her poetry has been published in numerous journals including Pearl, Squaw Valley Review, California Quarterly, Karamu, and The Great American Poetry Show. She has written articles on love and dating for Match.com and is currently working on a memoir about her experiences as a swing dancer.  Marilyn has a BA in English and Writing from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and a Master’s Degree from Boston University.

So You Want To Be A Writer?

You’ve always dreamed of finding the time to write on a regular basis or to finish a few poems, a scene from a screenplay, or a short story. You can do it, and this class will help you! Brand new writing exercises and our balanced work shopping sessions will motivate you to keep your writing practice going. You’ll be too busy having fun writing to let your inner critic slow you down! We’ll also address individual writing practice/project issues, and help you tackle revision without pain. Experienced and beginning writers welcome.

	Instructor: Marilyn Friedman Sat. A.M. Section June 23, July 21, 28, Aug. 11 (4 Sat. a.m.'s & 1 elective)* 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Cost: $235 (Includes snacks and tea) Location: Writing Pad East
	Tues. P.M. Section June 5, 12, 19, 26 (4 Tues. p.m.'s & 1 elective)* 7:30 p.m. -10:00 p.m. Cost: $235 (Includes snacks and tea) Location: Writing Pad East

The Odd Couple: Creating Characters That Write Themselves

Nothing makes the creative process more fun than working with lively characters that drive your story forward. It’s even better when your hero is paired with his perfect foil. Just like a bold Cabernet makes a pungent Camembert taste better, complex protagonists bring out the spice in their antagonist neighbors. But how do you create the ideal character match? In this class, Writing Pad’s founder, Marilyn Friedman, will answer these questions and more. She’ll share strategies for crafting charismatic, three dimensional good guys and villains that your readers will love to hate. Then she’ll show you how to pit your white hats and black hats against each other to create escalating conflict. By the end of class, you’ll have written two to three scenes with characters so compelling, your story will finish itself.

	Instructor: Marilyn Friedman Sunday, June 10, 2012 3:00 p.m. -5:30 p.m. Cost: $55 (Includes snacks and tea) Location: Writing Pad West

About Marilyn Friedman:
Marilyn Friedman has taught writing in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles for the past seven years, including classes at Pixar, Walt Disney Studios, The Writing Salon, and the Southern California Writers Conference.  She is the founder and lead instructor at Writing Pad.  Her poetry has been published in numerous journals including Pearl, Squaw Valley Review, California Quarterly, Karamu, and The Great American Poetry Show. She has written articles on love and dating for Match.com and is currently working on a memoir about her experiences as a swing dancer.  Marilyn has a BA in English and Writing from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and a Master’s Degree from Boston University.