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Featured Online Writing Class

The Art of Nature Writing by Melanie Faith

START DATE:  Closed.

DURATION:   5 weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  From Thoreau to John Muir and Annie Dillard to Mary Oliver, nature writing encompasses a lively and interesting path across the landscape of creative writing.  In this five-week workshop, we’ll explore this eclectic art form, finding inspiration in weekly Nature Writing excerpts and within our text, Writing About Nature: A Creative Guide. Students will submit drafts weekly for constructive and supportive instructor feedback. Topics covered will include: A Brief History of Nature Journals; Essays: a Definition and a Writing History; Character and Dialogue in Nature Writing; Figurative Language; Word Pictures; Nature Writing in the Fiction and Poetry Genres; and much more.

Melanie has been a total joy as a teacher and guide. I found her feedback, critiques, and comments to be extraordinarily helpful and insightful. And the daily prompts and positive reinforcement made this writing class a wonderful experience! ~ Mary Purdy

Melanie’s class taught me economy of words by using strong verbs and nouns, implying and showing rather than telling, and exploring topics outside of my comfort zone. Her feedback is prompt, detailed and constructive. ~ Rajni Gupta

Melanie Faith’s “Spark and Sizzle Flash Fiction Class” lives up to its title. The sample stories provided were examples of good writing and served as models. Melanie’s prompts came at a rapid pace and kept my pen on the page every day. Her critique comments were sharp and encouraging and challenged me to be the best writer I could be. She is easily available for questions or discussions during and after her classes via her personal email. This is the third class I’ve taken with Melanie and I am looking forward to taking many more in the future. ~ Renee Cassese

Melanie knows how to offer on-the-mark suggestions for writing improvement while also being extremely encouraging (and a joy to work with). I've taken many classes with her, including the flash class, and I plan on taking many more. ~ Marilyn Fahey

Melanie has always shown great insight into my work. Often times, she is able to pull out deeper meanings, that even I wasn't consciously aware of while writing. Her constructive criticism has moved my writing into new directions. I find that I feel more confident and prepared as a writer by having her constant editing eye. I respect that she critiques my poetry honestly, letting me know areas that are weak as well as strong points. I wouldn't be able to grow as a writer if she always told me my poems were great. It's from her perspective of my work that I grow. I enjoy learning through her and appreciate her sharing tricks of the trade that she learned in her masters program.

I'm thankful to know Melanie and hope we remain friends and a poetry support system for the rest of our lives. She's the type of person and writer that anyone would feel lucky to know. She is a great mentor and holds a wealth of knowledge in the written language. Her achievements and constant pursuit as a writer inspire so many. Her determination and skill will go very far and I suspect she'll leave a lasting imprint in the written world. She already has. ~ Courtney Burger

The course was great. I did not want it to end. I have taken several college level creative writing courses, as well as, attended many writer’s workshops, but I have enjoyed this course the most. I really appreciated that Melanie would also critique our re-writes which was very, very helpful. This course has really helped to motivate me creatively. ~ Barb Cramer

Melanie demonstrates particular qualities in a writing teacher/coach that I would recommend for anyone looking for focused attention to help move their writing forward.

I had not taken an on-line course previously, and didn't know what to expect, but Melanie melted the distance, was always accessible, and never missed a beat with out on-line communication. I always felt like I had Melanie right here around my writing table, or knocking on my door saying—“I had a few thoughts..." She provided a wealth of resources and provided us with course materials that were tuned to our course level.

Her insight into my work, in terms of critique, were extremely thoughtful, thorough, and eye-opening. I feel that working with Melanie has allowed me to be braver with my writing and editing—as she was supportive of experimentation and taking chances with style, vocabulary, and theme. She provides serious critique in an atmosphere that, well, just makes me want to keep on writing!” ~ Mary Ellen Sanger

I have taken three courses from Melanie and in each course I grow tremendously as a writer. The texts she uses as well as the handouts and daily writing prompts all contribute to what she refers to as “the writing life” and in her courses that’s exactly what it becomes. Her comments on the pieces go way beyond grammar and punctuation. She delves into the content and clarifies what is good and what can be adjusted to make the piece stronger. I can tell she spends time reading what I write and is prompt in returning the assignments so I always have plenty of time for revision. She treats me, and everyone in the class, like a writer. Her classes are a joy. If there is a course offered by Melanie and I can fit it in, I always take it. ~ Holly Helscher

I have the normal anxiousness of sharing my work while so excited to have Melanie Faith’s critical eye read my writing. It is always reviewed with an eye to improvement and an eye to the thoughts the words contain. This is the first computer class I have ever taken and want to take many more. I also look forward to many more classes with Melanie Faith. ~ Benita Cervantes

Because I love memoir writing, I have taken two memoir/personal essay classes from Melanie. I can’t believe this, but because I enjoy the teacher herself and her method of teaching so much, I’ve even taken a poetry-writing class. I’ve always steered away from writing poetry of any kind ever since I wrote a poem in college (an assignment, not a by-choice piece) and the class laughed because I wrote about a controversial topic and was so naïve that I didn’t even know it was controversial. Every time I’d mention to Melanie that I’d never write a poem, she’d encourage me to take her class, assuring me that I’d be successful. I took the class, and sure enough, I was successful, thanks to Melanie’s velvet critiquing, encouraging comments, and thoughtful suggestions, many times seeing in my writing what I couldn’t see for myself.

I have to rein myself in every time I see in the WOW classes list that Melanie is teaching another essay class. And why is this? In all of my education (B.A. in English and M.A. in English), I never took a writing class. When I was in college, writing was taught only in Freshman English; after that class, we were just expected to know how to write. I learned to teach writing myself by reading books about writing. How refreshing and educational to find a teacher/mentor who exhibits the characteristics that I know an excellent writing teacher has: the creativity to come up with topics that students want to write about, the ability to critique without finding fault, the desire to encourage students to keep on writing even when the juices aren’t flowing. Believe me . . . she’s an excellent teacher. In addition, she became my friend through being my teacher. To be a friend AND a teacher takes real talent. ~ Sandy Young

WEEKS AT A GLANCE:

Monday, September 15, 22, 29, and October 3 and 10 (instructor Nature Writing Samplers sent)

Monday, September 22, 29, and October 3, 10, and 17 (student Nature Writing drafts due for instructor comments)

Week One: A Brief History of Nature Journals; Essays: a Definition and a Writing History; and The Writing Process.

Nature Writing Samplers (provided by instructor):

  • “My First Summer in the Sierra” journal excerpt from John Muir
  • Excerpts from Walden: “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” and “Winter Animals,” by Henry David Thoreau

Writing About Nature Text Reading:

  • Chapter One: pages 1-10
  • Chapter Two: pages 11-22
  • Chapter Three: pages 23-33

Assignment: Submit a piece of writing based on any ONE of the following nine prompts from our class text: #2, 3, 4 or 5 in Chapter One; #1, 2, or 4 in Chapter 2; #1 or 4 in Chapter Three.

Week Two: The Opening; The Closing; Character and Dialogue in Nature Writing.

Nature Writing Samplers (provided by instructor):

  • Excerpt from Desert Solitaire: “The First Morning,” by Edward Abbey
  • Excerpts from Wild: “Hunching in a Remotely Upright Position” and “Staying Found,” by Cheryl Strayed

Writing About Nature Text Reading:

  • Chapter Four: pages 35-45
  • Chapter Five: pages 47-58
  • Chapter Eight: pages 87-94

Assignment: Submit a piece of writing based on any ONE of the following six prompts from our class text” #4 or 5 in Chapter Four; #3 or 5 in Chapter Five; #2 or 3 in Chapter Eight.

Week Three: Triggers: Word Pictures; and Nature Writing in the Fiction and Poetry Genres.  

Nature Writing Samplers (provided by instructor)

  • Selections from Mary Oliver: “Black Oaks,” “Touch-me-nots,” and “A Blessing”

Writing About Nature Text Reading:

  • Chapter Six: pages 59-71
  • Chapter Eleven: pages 115-127

Assignment: Submit a piece of writing based on any ONE of the following nine prompts from our class text: #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 in Chapter Six; #1 or 3 in Chapter Eleven.

Week Four: Figurative Language; Story-Telling; and Style.

Nature Writing Samplers (provided by instructor):

  • Exerpts from A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson
  • “The Force That Drives the Flower,” by Annie Dillard

Writing About Nature Text Reading:

  • Chapter Seven: pages 73-85
  • Chapter Nine: pages 95-104
  • Chapter Ten: pages 105-114

Assignment: Submit a piece of writing based on any ONE of the following ten prompts from our class text: #2, 5, 6 or 7 from Chapter Seven; #2, 3, or 4 in Chapter Nine; #`, 2 or 3 in Chapter Ten.

Week Five: Revision; Research; and Publication.

Nature Writing Samplers (provided by instructor):

  • Excerpt from Refuge, by Terry Tempest Williams

Writing About Nature Text Reading:

  • Chapter Twelve: pages 129-133
  • Chapter Thirteen: pages 137-148
  • Chapter Fifteen: pages 159-170

Assignment: Submit a piece of writing based on any ONE of the following six prompts from our class text: #1 or 2 from Chapter Twelve; #1, 2, 5 or 6 in Chapter Thirteen.

OR

Students may submit a revision of one of the previous four pieces you’ve penned during this course.

Materials needed: Students will need a copy of: Writing About Nature: A Creative Guide (Revised Edition) by John A. Murray (University of New Mexico Press, 2003). This text is currently available in print at Amazon.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Melanie Faith holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, NC. Her writing has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. Her poems, essays, and fiction have been published in the past year at Vermillion Literary Project, Linden Avenue, Mason’s Road, The New Writer, Foliate Oak, and Origami Poems Project, and her writing is forthcoming from Star 82 Review (flash fiction), Words Dance (poetry), and Crack the Spine (short story). Her WWII era poetry collection, Catching the Send-Off Train, was published as the summer 2013 selection at Wordrunner eChapbooks. Her poetry chapbook, To Waken is to Begin, was published by Aldrich Press in September 2012. In addition to writing two novels seeking representation and numerous photography publications, her instructional articles about creative writing techniques have appeared in The Writer and Writers’ Journal, among others.

COST:  $180, which includes e-mail critique and positive feedback on student writing, Nature Writing Samplers, and access to a private group for student interactions.

BUY NOW:  The Art of Nature Writing by Melanie Faith (5 weeks, starting 9/15/2014) Limit: 10 students. Early registration is recommended.

This class is now closed. Please check here for our current schedule.

Notes: Upon successful completion of payment, your name, email address, and contact info will be submitted to your instructor. She will contact you via email so you can get started.

Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

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