The Center
The
Elizabeth Ayres Center for Creative Writing is dedicated
to the belief that the individual undergoes a personal
metamorphosis as she or he creates a work of art, and that the
work can then contribute to the transformative process of others.
At the Center, we believe that artists play a vital role in our
society as it struggles to evolve.
"This above all – ask yourself in the stillest hour of your night: must I write? Delve into yourself for a deep answer. And if this should be affirmative, if you may meet this earnest question with a strong and simple "I must," then build your life according to this necessity..." (Ranier Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet) |
For 18 years now,
the Center has been committed to establishing for writers the
conditions necessary for the creative spirit to flourish. These
include nurturing instruction, supportive community and a common
endeavor toward the common goal of taking our work out into a
world that needs it.
The Center is both
training ground and launching pad, as many published writers who
got started here can affirm. More importantly, the Center is a
refuge where creativity takes pride of place, and every writer is
encouraged to grow to his or her full potential. We welcome all
people who desire to express themselves through the written word,
no matter how little or how much experience they may have.
To the person who asked him, "How do I know if I'm really a writer?" T.S. Eliot replied, "Stop writing." The implication is obvious. If you can stop writing, by all means do, but if you can't, it's time to step up to the plate. (Elizabeth Ayres) |
Maybe you only wish you
could write. Have you been dreaming of telling the world
your life story, but don't know how to start? Do you love to
invent characters and plots, but feel silly when you try to put
them on paper? Maybe you think you've learned a thing or two in
this life, and imagine yourself sharing your wisdom in a book. If
so, you've come to the right place, because we offer aspiring
writers the support they need to stop dreaming about creative
writing and start writing creatively. So if you sense something
extraordinary within yourself, and want a writing course that can
show you how to realize your potential, look no further, you've
found it here.
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Maybe you're
already hard at work. If so, you have questions. Does
this character breathe? Does that flashback work? Should I switch
to third person? Is my imagery vivid enough? You also have doubts.
Am I wasting my time? Do I have what it takes? Will I ever get my
work out there, into the hands of the audience I hope it deserves?
When questions and doubts interfere with the work, you need a
creative writing class that can build your confidence. You're
tired of conventionally taught writing workshops, with their
criticisms and ego trips. You want supportive companions who
understand the writing process and will encourage you through
every stage of it. So if you're ready for a new approach to
creative writing instruction, if you're ready for real community
among fellow writers, you've come to the right place.
"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all Time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost..." (Letter from Martha Graham to Agnes De Mille) |
At the
Elizabeth Ayres Center for Creative Writing, we want you
to become the writer you've always dreamed you could be, whether
that's poetry writing, fiction writing, non-fiction writing or
even screenplay writing. We offer Writing the Wave, the
online writing course with a difference, for writers who want to make a difference in our world. Writing the Wave is a
creative writing program of multi-genre, online writing workshops
suitable for beginning writers and intermediate writers. Private
instruction is also available, and we offer several kinds of
writing retreats.
"As the great poet, Jack Gilbert, said once to a young writer, when she asked him for advice about her own poems: 'Do you have the courage to bring forth this work? The treausres that are hidden inside you are hoping you will say YES.'"
(Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love) |
Feel free to contact us by email or by phone
(1-800-510-1049) with any questions you may
have. We do sometimes offer other kinds of writing classes, and
we hold writing workshops in New York City and in Connecticut
from time to time, so make sure you sign up to be on our mailing
list. That way, you'll always
be informed about new Center offerings, and once a month you'll
receive new essays by Elizabeth Ayres.
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