ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Nils
Osmar has made his living in the arts since the 1980s, and
has taught both accredited and non-accredited classes in Seattle
for over twenty years, through the University of Washington's
ASUW
Experimental College, Antioch University Heritage Institute,
the Wonder School,
and Classesandworkshops.com.
He has written poems, magazine articles, short stories, stageplays
and screenplays. His short story collection, The Hungry Time,
was published in 1996, and was featured on public radio and Alaska
Reader. Nils Osmar home page
ABOUT THE SCHOOL:
This class is sponsored by the
ASUW
Experimental College, the Wonder
School, and Classesandworkshops.com.
It's open to everyone; you don't have to be a U.W. student to
sign up. (If an enrollee is under 18, please contact us first
to make sure the class is a good "fit" for the student)
MATERIALS:
Just bring a pad and pan (or, it's fine to bring a laptop for
in-class writing if you prefer).
"The
most interesting thing about writing is the way that it obliterates
time. Three hours seem like three minutes. Then there is the
business of surprise. I never know what is coming next. The phrase
that sounds in the head changes when it appears on the page.
... That's why I go on, I suppose. To see what the next sentences
I write will be." - Gore Vidal
STUDENT COMMENTS:
Thanks again for the writing
class this quarter. I found your comments on my stories, and
other students' stories, helpful and to the point. You said what
you thought, but without trashing anybody. I also appreciated
being able to hear other students' comments on what I'd written.
- Megan C. (Edmonds)
I liked the format, and the chance to things aloud.... hearing
my own stories was an eye-opener. Just hearing them, I could
tell when they were working or where the cuts needed to be. It
was also great having a chance to get so much feedback. - Bill
K. (Seattle)
I spent two years not writing and getting ragged about it. I
have to say that during your class I started writing and I've
been writing my b_lls off ever since. It worked for me totally.
- Andy J. (Seattle)
I loved your class. - J.L., Seattle
Thanks for a fun and interesting class. I appreciate how you
value each student for their individual voice and style, and
how you encourage and bring out the best in each of us. I always
learn new and effective ways to look at things when I take one
of your classes... - Barb B. (Bellevue)
Thanks for an excellent class. The exercises were enjoyable.
It was a pleasure to be in such a creative group.- Marylin H.
(Bellevue)
I took it because I was "stuck" in journaling, and
wanted to shake myself loose and open up my writing abilities
and inclinations in some new directions. Your suggestions and
comments were great. I'm unstuck. Thank you!!!! I'll be back
in the fall to take the class again. - Marie L., Lake Forest
Park
I found this class to be both fun and educational thanks to both
Nils and everyone in the class. -M.L, Seattle
Suzie and I had lunch together today and we were commenting on
how much we appreciated the gracious and respectful manner in
which you taught the class. We both feel SO thankful to have
'happened' to have chosen your writing class, and we want to
say THANKS NILS! The group you've birthed and created has lots
of energy! (We've formed a writing group and are) plan to meet
every 2 weeks. - M.C., Seattle
I liked the combination of handouts, presentation, discussion,
and reading student writing for feedback. The combination of
all of these separate tools helped reinforce concepts and make
each two hour session productive and varied. Nils makes the classroom
comfortable for people at all levels. - J.F., Bellevue
Making classes more affordable
We've been brainstorming ways
to make classes more affordable in this crunched economy, and
have found several things that can help:
