Masters Seminar for 2008
June 24-28, 2008
Screenwriting
True Story to Screen

taught by Gregory Allen Howard
participants come with true story ideas  they
want to turn into a screenplay-- personal,
coming of age, family drama,  biography;
historical story...

Masters Intensive
June 22-28,2008
Political Content in Poetry, Story and Memoir

taught by Elmaz Abinader
All of our work has impact in politics, literature
and culture. How do we     write our political
ideas and still maintain the integrity of a story  
a poem,or a memoir. How do we have political
content without being topical...and become
transcendent...this class generates   work and
reviews some pieces by the writers.

The Masters Suites are special classes held from one to five days. They are taught by a master teacher
with much experience to share and are focused on a specific topic


Afternoon Seminar:
publishing and the writer of color


Each week we provide important
informational workshops for the
writers with Literary Agents,
Publishers, the VONA Authors and
other field professionals that
inform us on the relationship
between publishing and
writers-of-color.
"It was a wonderful
experience. Walter
lived up to his word of
telling us what he
knows about writing
and it was a privilege to
receive that
information from his
directly. He was
entertaining,
encouraging and
accessible."
Valerie, Masters Suite,
2006
Past Masters Suites included:

  • Creating Character with Jessica Hagedorn

  • Writers of Color and Political Responsibility with Walter Mosley and Elmaz Abinader

  • Playwriting with Cherrie Moraga

  • Leading Many Lives, Telling Your Story in Poetry, Novel or Memoir with Jimmy Santiago Baca

  • A Life with Poetry with Quincy Troupe

  • Journey Through the Color Complex with Marita Golden

  • Writing the Life Story with Terry McMillan

Masters Suite and Afternoon Seminars