Workshop Wednesday-Fifth House Lodge
Fifth House Lodge
Contact: Joan Lee Hunter
How often do your workshops meet?
I usually run 10 weekend workshops at Fifth House Lodge a year.
What resources and/or programs do you offer writers?
In addition to group workshops, I offer private coaching, either by the hour or in a multi-day personalized retreat format here at the lodge.
What do you think is the biggest struggle writers face when trying to get published?
My goal as teacher is to make people better writers, period. As such, I’m not that focused on the publishing end of things. I often notice, though, that the drive to get published – and as soon as possible – can get in the way of writers doing their best work.
What is your workshop’s focus?
Apart from the basic Writing to Discover workshop that helps people write with ease and authenticity, I run workshops on memoir, fiction, and how to begin a writing project.
What is your workshop’s greatest strength?
The strength of my workshops is that they are completely “hands on.” We focus on the writing process itself rather than on participants’ past or current work. What participants take from the workshop can be applied immediately to any and all writing projects.
Who is your workshop’s target demographic?
I don’t “target” any particular demographic. I seem to draw people from all age groups (over 21), ethnicities and geographical locations.
What purpose do you think workshops serve for authors trying to get
published?
Obviously, some workshops concentrate more on the publishing process than others, but in general it’s good to be around teachers and other writers who can offer insights into the craft of writing, along with information about navigating the ever-changing publishing world.
What is your advice for writers who have never attended a
workshop?
First, writers should ask lots of questions up front so they know what to expect. Then they should attend not only with the intention of getting feedback on their work and/or learning about publishing, but also of making friends with fellow writers for ongoing support.
