NEWS SPORTS OPINION LIFE & ARTS Search
Search NEWS Breaking Police Village School Obituaries
SPORTS High School Youth Athlete of the Month Athlete of the Week
OPINION From the Editor Letters to the Editor Contributing Columnists
LIFE & ARTS Dining Out Faith Briefs The Scene
MARKETPLACE 2017 Private School Guide 2017 Camp Guide Real Estate Classifieds
CURRENT PLUS Member Benefits Digital Paper
Home / Life & Arts
Winnetka writers workshop inspires generations of authors
Off Campus Writers’ Participants of Winnetka’s Workshop Off Campus guest speaker, Writers’Randy Workshop Richardson, Carolynspeaks Armstrong to writers and Fred aboutFitzsimmons strategies for chat selfduring a group break on Feb. 23 at the Winnetka Community House. Armstrong is awaiting publication of her new middle promotion. grade novel, set in Africa. PHOTOS BY LIBBY ELLIOTT/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Most Viewed
1.
Crow Island Kindergarten school assignment plan approved
2.
Supporters, detractors express opinions on NT Seminar Day in packed auditorium
3.
Winnetka man graduates Marine Corps boot camp
4.
CorePower Yoga opens newest Chicagoland studio in Winnetka
5.
New Trier Child Care Center opens for public enrollment
View More
e
Libby Elliott, Freelance Reporter 2:44 pm CST February 27, 2017 Share +
In October of 1946, on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, a small group of likeminded professors’ wives formed a writing group. Seeking to create an independent, intellectual life for themselves, the women chose to meet away from the university’s
campus, out from under the shadow of their husbands. They gave their group an official identity: the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop. One of the group’s original founding members, Rita Turow, would later give birth to a son — international best-selling author and lawyer, Scott Turow. Over half a century later, the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop is still going strong. Between the months of September and May each year, this group meets on Thursday mornings at The Winnetka Community House. What began seven decades ago as a small coffee klatch has evolved into a dynamic, inclusive membership community of nearly 200 aspiring and professional writers who regularly gather to study, support and constructively critique one another’s work. The workshop’s loyal participants and notable history make it the oldest continuously operating writer’s workshop in the United States. “There is no organization like this in the country,” said Fred Shafer, editor of Northwestern University’s tri-quarterly literary magazine and professor of fiction writing at the Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies. “I’ve seen nothing like it anywhere else.” Shafer has been the OCWW’s annual opening speaker for the past 25 years. The workshop maintains a longstanding tradition of featuring a guest lecturer for the first half of the group’s working session, followed by the oral critique of a submitted manuscript. Meeting topics range from techniques for writing both fiction and non-fiction, to strategies for getting published. Shafer’s four-part lecture series in September 2016 was entitled, “The Role of Questions in Fiction Writing,” while a recent OCWW special evening presentation by Chicago journalist Randy Richardson focused on practical tips for self-promotion through social media, networking and interviews. “With writing, no matter how much confidence you have, you can never be sure of your work,” said Shafer. “When a supportive environment exists, you can push ideas a long way.” The OCWW is managed by a devoted team of nine volunteer board members and guided by the steady hand of the organization’s current president, Fred Fitzsimmons, a Wilmette retiree and novelist who spent 50 years in advertising and communications for the healthcare industry. After streamlining the group’s organization, Fitzsimmons and his team pre-booked a full roster of high caliber speakers and special events for 2016-2017, resulting in a noticeable uptick in attendance and an expansion of the group’s demographics.
“The OCWW is a friendly, collegial group set in a social yet serious atmosphere,” Fitzsimmons said. “We share a passion and commitment to writing.” Members of OCWW pay $35 in annual dues, entitling them to a 50 percent discount on the standard non-member workshop admission price of $20. For an additional fee, writers can submit manuscripts to be marked by a guest presenter, parts of which may be read aloud to participants during the workshop. “There are moments in a lecture where the audience will make a suggestion, and it’s not always something I caught when I marked up the manuscript,” Shafer said. “It’s that outside input that enables writers to see things.” Award-winning novelist Christine Sneed has lectured repeatedly at the OCWW on the subject of conflict in literary fiction. “Writing is a very solitary activity,” she said. “It’s important to have contact with other writers who are supportive.” And, while the OCWW welcomes all levels of writers with varying degrees of experience, the ultimate goal for many participants is publishing their novel, short story or memoir. Former lawyer turned writer, Ellen McKnight, found the OCWW when she moved from Chicago to the northern suburbs several years ago. McKnight penned her first novel during her young daughter’s naptimes. Since then, her short stories and flash fiction have appeared in numerous literary journals. McKnight’s second novel, “The Ex-Mom,” made the Finalist Short List in the Faulkner Writing Competition and is currently being shopped by several publishing agents in New York City. “All that has flowed from the education and support I received from my sessions with Fred Shafer and the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop,” McKnight said. “I just walked in the door all those years ago and was accepted.”
Add comment You're currently logged in as: Libby Elliott
Comment
Comment
Preview
More from The Winnetka Current Boys swimming and diving: Scheinfeld wins title, NT finishes third at state Home of the Week: 566 Willow Road, Winnetka Going Rate: March 2 La Taquiza Y Mas expands upon staple North Shore menu Winnetka Community House fundraises with wine/beer event
d
Winnetka writers workshop inspires generations of authors
Publications Chicago Southwest The Frankfort Station The Homer Horizon The Lockport Legend The Mokena Messenger The New Lenox Patriot The Orland Park Prairie The Tinley Junction
Chicago North Shore The Glencoe Anchor The Glenview Lantern The Highland Park Landmark The Lake Forest Leader The Northbrook Tower
The Wilmette Beacon
Company
The Winnetka Current
West Coast 22nd Century Media Malibu Surfside News About Us Contact Us Advertise With Us Careers
© Copyright 2017, 22nd Century Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Code Of Conduct
SPORTS High School Youth Athlete of the Month Athlete of the Week
OPINION From the Editor Letters to the Editor Contributing Columnists
LIFE & ARTS Dining Out Faith Briefs The Scene
MARKETPLACE 2017 Private School Guide 2017 Camp Guide Real Estate Classifieds
CURRENT PLUS Member Benefits Digital Paper
Home / Life & Arts
Winnetka writers workshop inspires generations of authors
Off Campus Writers’ Participants of Winnetka’s Workshop Off Campus guest speaker, Writers’Randy Workshop Richardson, Carolynspeaks Armstrong to writers and Fred aboutFitzsimmons strategies for chat selfduring a group break on Feb. 23 at the Winnetka Community House. Armstrong is awaiting publication of her new middle promotion. grade novel, set in Africa. PHOTOS BY LIBBY ELLIOTT/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Most Viewed
1.
Crow Island Kindergarten school assignment plan approved
2.
Supporters, detractors express opinions on NT Seminar Day in packed auditorium
3.
Winnetka man graduates Marine Corps boot camp
4.
CorePower Yoga opens newest Chicagoland studio in Winnetka
5.
New Trier Child Care Center opens for public enrollment
View More
e
Libby Elliott, Freelance Reporter 2:44 pm CST February 27, 2017 Share +
In October of 1946, on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, a small group of likeminded professors’ wives formed a writing group. Seeking to create an independent, intellectual life for themselves, the women chose to meet away from the university’s
campus, out from under the shadow of their husbands. They gave their group an official identity: the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop. One of the group’s original founding members, Rita Turow, would later give birth to a son — international best-selling author and lawyer, Scott Turow. Over half a century later, the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop is still going strong. Between the months of September and May each year, this group meets on Thursday mornings at The Winnetka Community House. What began seven decades ago as a small coffee klatch has evolved into a dynamic, inclusive membership community of nearly 200 aspiring and professional writers who regularly gather to study, support and constructively critique one another’s work. The workshop’s loyal participants and notable history make it the oldest continuously operating writer’s workshop in the United States. “There is no organization like this in the country,” said Fred Shafer, editor of Northwestern University’s tri-quarterly literary magazine and professor of fiction writing at the Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies. “I’ve seen nothing like it anywhere else.” Shafer has been the OCWW’s annual opening speaker for the past 25 years. The workshop maintains a longstanding tradition of featuring a guest lecturer for the first half of the group’s working session, followed by the oral critique of a submitted manuscript. Meeting topics range from techniques for writing both fiction and non-fiction, to strategies for getting published. Shafer’s four-part lecture series in September 2016 was entitled, “The Role of Questions in Fiction Writing,” while a recent OCWW special evening presentation by Chicago journalist Randy Richardson focused on practical tips for self-promotion through social media, networking and interviews. “With writing, no matter how much confidence you have, you can never be sure of your work,” said Shafer. “When a supportive environment exists, you can push ideas a long way.” The OCWW is managed by a devoted team of nine volunteer board members and guided by the steady hand of the organization’s current president, Fred Fitzsimmons, a Wilmette retiree and novelist who spent 50 years in advertising and communications for the healthcare industry. After streamlining the group’s organization, Fitzsimmons and his team pre-booked a full roster of high caliber speakers and special events for 2016-2017, resulting in a noticeable uptick in attendance and an expansion of the group’s demographics.
“The OCWW is a friendly, collegial group set in a social yet serious atmosphere,” Fitzsimmons said. “We share a passion and commitment to writing.” Members of OCWW pay $35 in annual dues, entitling them to a 50 percent discount on the standard non-member workshop admission price of $20. For an additional fee, writers can submit manuscripts to be marked by a guest presenter, parts of which may be read aloud to participants during the workshop. “There are moments in a lecture where the audience will make a suggestion, and it’s not always something I caught when I marked up the manuscript,” Shafer said. “It’s that outside input that enables writers to see things.” Award-winning novelist Christine Sneed has lectured repeatedly at the OCWW on the subject of conflict in literary fiction. “Writing is a very solitary activity,” she said. “It’s important to have contact with other writers who are supportive.” And, while the OCWW welcomes all levels of writers with varying degrees of experience, the ultimate goal for many participants is publishing their novel, short story or memoir. Former lawyer turned writer, Ellen McKnight, found the OCWW when she moved from Chicago to the northern suburbs several years ago. McKnight penned her first novel during her young daughter’s naptimes. Since then, her short stories and flash fiction have appeared in numerous literary journals. McKnight’s second novel, “The Ex-Mom,” made the Finalist Short List in the Faulkner Writing Competition and is currently being shopped by several publishing agents in New York City. “All that has flowed from the education and support I received from my sessions with Fred Shafer and the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop,” McKnight said. “I just walked in the door all those years ago and was accepted.”
Add comment You're currently logged in as: Libby Elliott
Comment
Comment
Preview
More from The Winnetka Current Boys swimming and diving: Scheinfeld wins title, NT finishes third at state Home of the Week: 566 Willow Road, Winnetka Going Rate: March 2 La Taquiza Y Mas expands upon staple North Shore menu Winnetka Community House fundraises with wine/beer event
d
Winnetka writers workshop inspires generations of authors
Publications Chicago Southwest The Frankfort Station The Homer Horizon The Lockport Legend The Mokena Messenger The New Lenox Patriot The Orland Park Prairie The Tinley Junction
Chicago North Shore The Glencoe Anchor The Glenview Lantern The Highland Park Landmark The Lake Forest Leader The Northbrook Tower
The Wilmette Beacon
Company
The Winnetka Current
West Coast 22nd Century Media Malibu Surfside News About Us Contact Us Advertise With Us Careers
© Copyright 2017, 22nd Century Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Code Of Conduct
