Marjorie Hudson, author of both a memoir and a collection of short stories, will come to Weathers Creek Farm in Cleveland on Oct. 8. Hudsonís workshop on crafting the creative nonfiction essay will show participants how the techniques of fiction writers, poets and reporters merge to deepen the emotional power of creative nonfiction essays.
Hudson explains, ěWeíll look at how writers such as David Sedaris, Susan Orlean, and Ann Lamott weave dialogue, internal monologue, character development, moral dilemmas, humor, self-revelation, factual data and vivid description to draw the reader into the constructed ërealí world of the creative nonfiction writer.î
Hudson recently gave a writing workshop at Literary Bookpost in downtown Salisbury, where she also signed her new short-story collection, ěAccidental Birds of the Carolinas.î
Participants may bring a work-in-process to review, and students will look closely at how to craft work with intention, to reveal its full humanity, its precision, its unique and compelling qualities.
Hudson was born in a small town in Illinois, grew up in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Chatham County. ěAccidental Birds of the Carolinas,î a Novello Literary Award Finalist, is her first book of fiction. Hudson is also the author of a well received memoir, ěSearching for Virginia Dare,î a North Carolina Arts Council Notable Book.
Her fiction, poetry and personal essays have been collected in five anthologies. She has contributed to many magazines and journals, including Story, Storytelling Magazine, Garden & Gun, Yankee, West Branch, National Parks, American Land Forum and North Carolina Literary Review.
Her honors and awards include a Fiction Syndicate Prize, two Pushcart Special Mentions, Writer in Residence at Headlands Center for the Arts (Sausalito, Calif.) and Hedgebrook Retreat for Women Writers (Whidbey Is., Wash.), a Blumenthal Award, and Sarah Belk Gambrell Artist Educator of the Year. She is a graduate of American University and holds an MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College.
The Farm at Weathers Creek is a peaceful spot with scenic views from almost every window of the log home on the property. Owned by the Campbell family, the house was built from logs salvaged from their motherís home place in Mount Ulla. The Weathers Creek Writersí Series was founded by writer/editor Ann Wicker, photographer and writer Susan Campbell, and marketing and sales specialist Cindy Campbell.
Sessions are $75 each. All sessions include a homemade lunch. Deadline for registration for Oct. 8 is Sept. 30. Classes are limited to 14 people. Discounts are offered if you sign up for more than one session.
Gift certificates are available. All sessions will start promptly at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. For a registration form, directions and other information, go to www.weatherscreek.net/.