Campus News
May 8, 2018
Writing workshops hosted by Garrett College's Mountain Maryland Writers' Institute to return this summer
The Mountain Maryland Writers' Institute will kick-off its second year in Garrett County, Md., this summer, July 26-29, 2018. Workshops will be led by a variety of authors, historians, and storytellers. The upcoming sessions will take place at various county venues, including: Swallow Falls State Park, the Friendsville Heritage Museum, the Grantsville Community Museum, the Spruce Artisan Village, the Cornucopia Café, and the Garrett College Art Gallery.
A Meet & Greet Reception will take place for workshop participants on July 26, 2018 in the evening at the Garrett College Art Gallery. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and network with presenters and fellow class members, in addition to learning in-depth information about the individual workshops.
The first day of workshop series is scheduled for Friday, July 27, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Swallow Falls State Park. Authors Jack DuBose and Rose Gordy are on the itinerary for the morning sessions. Their goal is to engage and encourage the creative processes involved in writing poetry, drawing inspiration from both the natural setting as well as the inner personal landscapes of dreams. Author and editor Jess Daddio is on the agenda for the afternoon. Daddio will provide insight into the world of travel guide writing, drawing on the natural beauty of Swallow Falls for inspiration.
Saturday, July 28, 2018 is the second day of workshop sessions, with workshops being held from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Friendsville and Grantsville. Presenters for the morning session are authors and historians, James Rada, Jr. and Dr. Neal Brooks. The workshop will take place at the Friendsville Heritage Museum, where participants will be encouraged to explore a myriad of writing topics, and presenters will provide valuable insights on the historical research needed to create historical settings in both fiction and non-fiction. Both presenters will also give an afternoon workshop at the Grantsville Community Museum.
At the conclusion of the afternoon workshop, participants will travel to the Spruce Artisan Village located next to the historic Casselman Bridge in Grantsville. Workshop members will have the opportunity to walk throughout this village where they can visit historic cabins and watch as village artists showcase and discuss regional arts and crafts, including weaving, pottery, wood turning, metal sculpture, bird carving, and herbal soap making.
Saturday's schedule will conclude with dinner at the Cornucopia Café where participants and presenters will enjoy the sharing an evening meal and a brief presentation on the history of the Cornucopia Café, provided by owners Mike Dreisback and Jan Russell.
The final day of the Writer's Workshop Series is Sunday, July 29, 2018 set to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 1 p.m. A continental breakfast will be served in the Garrett College Art Gallery, followed by two workshop sessions. "Ancestral Landscape: Flesh on Old Bones," guided by professional storyteller Ellouise Schoettler, is an interactive workshop designed to combine raw history with family tales, while the concluding session, "Marketing & Publication," will be led by James Rada, who will guide a discussion of marketing and publication options for writers.
Transportation to all venues other than Garrett College will be provided as an option for participants, with vans departing and returning to the college for the Friday and Saturday workshops. Participants may also opt to provide their own travel arrangements to and from the Friday and Saturday venues.
For more information, including registration, daily schedules, and presenters' for the Mountain Maryland Writers' Institute, persons are encouraged to visit online at https://www.garrettcollege.edu/writers-workshop.phpor contact Michael Logsdon at 301-387-3333 or michael.logsdon@garrettcollege.edu.
