Upcoming Classes

Creating Full Characters with A.C. Gaughen.

Monday, July 22nd-Sunday, August 25 via Google Classroom

Characters are the unforgettable heart of a story.  From the protagonists that leap off the page, the supporting cast that steal the show, and the antagonists who cause your main character to question everything, complexity makes characters memorable.  This five week course will break down what it means to be a full and interesting personality, how you can help characters leap off the page without over-explaining, and compare and contrast fascinating literary figures. 

About A.C. Gaughen is the author of the Scarlet Trilogy (Scarlet, Lady Thief and Lion Heart) and the Elementae (Reign the Earth, Imprison the Sky). She serves as a volunteer engagement manager for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and on the board for the non-profit Boston GLOW.  She has a Masters in Creative Writing from St. Andrews University in Scotland and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. @acgaughen

Registration & Payment

  • Registration: $200
  • ACW Member: $150

To register for an online writing class, use this form. Prefer cash or check? Select deferred payment in the registration form and send cash or check made out to Adirondack Center for Writing, P.O. Box 956, Saranac Lake, New York 12983. Want to give now and get the benefits? Join the family!

About

Each season welcomes a new batch of talented teachers and developing writers from all over the world. The Adirondack Center for Writing’s online classes are easy for you to participate in from your own computer. All you need to participate is a web browser — there’s no technical software involved, so you can work whenever is convenient for you.

Interactive readings, resources, and assignments are the heart of each class. Every student will receive personal feedback from the instructor on their weekly assignments. We welcome any level of writer to join the online writing classes, and offer courses for a variety of genres. Visit the FAQ page for more info about the online writing classes.

Student Testimonials

“I was a teacher for thirty years, and I can tell you that Julia Shipley knows her stuff and is willing to share her knowledge. She works to better student writing. She’s efficient, friendly and enthusiastic.”

“I have taken 8 online courses from One Story, Grub Street, and Gotham City. Julia Shipley’s preparation and presentation were the most thorough of all.”

“The class was the perfect amount of challenge, stimulation and fun.”

“I loved this course. It forced me to work at my edge. Jessica Hendry Nelson gave detailed feedback. I took risks and learned a lot.”

Previously Offered Courses

The Adirondack Center for Writing has offered a series of online writing workshops with an amazing group of teachers, including the following:

  • Writing Young Adult Fiction with Chris Tebbetts
  • The Personal Essay with Annie Stoltie
  • Memoir Writing with Mary Sanders Shartle
  • Limbs & Language: Writing Poetry with Mahogany L. Browne
  • The Unconventional Memoir with Jessica Hendry Nelson
  • Fiction Bootcamp with Gary Lee Miller
  • Lightning in a Bottle: Writing the Nature Flash with Julia Shipley
  • Make It Sing: Writing Poetry Out of the Everyday with José Olivarez
  • Essays from Personal Experience with Carrie Laben
  • The Promise of a Good Story: Writing Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels with Chris Tebbetts
  • Essay Associated: Experiments in Creative Nonfiction with Jessica Hendry Nelson
  • Shazam: The Superpower of Shortform (Sequel to Lightning in a Bottle: Reading and Writing the Nature Flash) with Julia Shipley
  • (re)Making Memory: Writing Poetry with Desiree C. Bailey
  • Seeding Your Sequoias: Writing Tiny but Mighty Prose with Julia Shipley