Don't miss the opportunity to write with Louise: Memoirs, science fiction, children's stories, plays--she does it all and is so welcoming."
--Joyce VanRavenswaay
--Joyce VanRavenswaay
Monday and Wednesday Night Writers
Writing the Wave
Using the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method and varied writing prompts, I offer busy people the chance to write with confidence so they can express what’s in their hearts without worrying about how it will be received.
Use the first hour of this focused, two-hour writing workshop to write out your personal stuff, play around with poetry, or draft a scene for your short story, novel, or memoir.
In the second hour, you will have the opportunity to receive encouraging feedback on your work-in-progress that will inspire you to keep writing and improving your piece.
We believe, “A writer is someone who writes,” –Pat Schenider, founder of Amherst Writers & Artists
Use the first hour of this focused, two-hour writing workshop to write out your personal stuff, play around with poetry, or draft a scene for your short story, novel, or memoir.
In the second hour, you will have the opportunity to receive encouraging feedback on your work-in-progress that will inspire you to keep writing and improving your piece.
- Come meet new writing friends, make connections, and learn about literary events and opportunities
- Generate writing, including in forms you may not have attempted before
- Have fun: we often play writing games and jump start our writing by collaborating with each other
- Learn craft, including dialogue, characterization, voice, POV, use of concrete detail, and how to express big feelings in poetry
We believe, “A writer is someone who writes,” –Pat Schenider, founder of Amherst Writers & Artists
Dates and Registration
Monday Night Fall Session starts Monday, November 4, 2024!
We will be meeting on zoom on November 4, 11, 18, 25; December 2, 9, 16 from 7-9PM Eastern.
Cost = $210. for seven-week session and includes one manuscript review.
Wednesday Night Fall Session starts Wednesday, October 2, 2024!
The group is currently closed.
Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Creative NonFiction
To sign-up, please contact Louise Bierig at [email protected] or 610.892.7604 or use the handy sign-up box below:
Location
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The Monday night group is meeting online. We have openings for the Spring session...come join us! The Wednesday night group is currently meeting over zoom, which means you can join us wherever you are in the world and stay with us when you're traveling. |
About Louise
Louise Bierig graduated from the University of Iowa's Undergraduate Writers' Workshop. She has written countless short stories, several personal essays, a few poems, and is currently working on two novellas and a novel. She has taught at the William Way Center in Philadelphia and at Soul Source in Swarthmore and Aston. Currently, she leads the Lansdowne Writers' Workshop as well as a workshop for Wallingford Swarthmore Community Classes. In 2021 she became an Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) affiliate, certified to lead workshops in the AWA method.
Her short stories, Field of Rye at Twilight (2018), and Sylvia (2019) were published in Philadelphia Stories. In Winter 2020 her flash fiction piece Be the Deer was published in Peregrine Journal Volume XXXIII. In Spring 2020, her flash piece, The Valley of Ebro was published in The Schuylkill Valley Journal, Volume 50. In Winter 2021, her flash piece The Corner Bar Read-In was published by shortedition. In Summer 2021, her short story The Anderson Family Motto was published in Toho Publishing's The Best Short Stories of Philadelphia 2021. In 2022, her short story A Cow Stood in the Field won third place in Mayday Magazine's March Madness Tournament and was subsequently published. In 2024, she published her first poem, Fine, in Pure Slush, Lifespan Volume 11: Older.
Her essays have been published in The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Swarthmorean.
Her fiction has won the following awards: 2004: Finalist in novel writing contest sponsored by Suspect Thoughts Press; 1997: Finalist for The Heekin Group Foundation Writer’s & Education Fund; 1992: First prize in Mercyhurst College’s short fiction contest.
Her short stories, Field of Rye at Twilight (2018), and Sylvia (2019) were published in Philadelphia Stories. In Winter 2020 her flash fiction piece Be the Deer was published in Peregrine Journal Volume XXXIII. In Spring 2020, her flash piece, The Valley of Ebro was published in The Schuylkill Valley Journal, Volume 50. In Winter 2021, her flash piece The Corner Bar Read-In was published by shortedition. In Summer 2021, her short story The Anderson Family Motto was published in Toho Publishing's The Best Short Stories of Philadelphia 2021. In 2022, her short story A Cow Stood in the Field won third place in Mayday Magazine's March Madness Tournament and was subsequently published. In 2024, she published her first poem, Fine, in Pure Slush, Lifespan Volume 11: Older.
Her essays have been published in The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Swarthmorean.
Her fiction has won the following awards: 2004: Finalist in novel writing contest sponsored by Suspect Thoughts Press; 1997: Finalist for The Heekin Group Foundation Writer’s & Education Fund; 1992: First prize in Mercyhurst College’s short fiction contest.
Review: This fall (2018) I was able to attend the full series of writing sessions. I generally write to speak; i.e., what I write is intended to be spoken. This workshop offered the opportunity to approach writing differently; exploring plot, character development, description - and think creatively, writing without apology and sharing - if you so choose - in a small, intimate, and safe community of fellow aspiring writers. Regardless of where you are or how you see yourself as a writer (budding or experienced pro) everyone can take away something substantive in every one of Louise’s sessions. She also not only models quite well, how to read a manuscript and give helpful, concrete, useful feedback, she asks each writer to participate in the process. If you haven’t signed up yet - give it a shot. You may even make a new friend or two. I did. As someone who travels a lot, the writing prompts Louise gives for post class writing now travel with me! Will sign up again the next time I am able. Already miss my Workshop mates! -Charlotte Blake Alston
“A Writer is Someone Who Writes.” -Pat Schneider
Summer Writing Retreat on Strawflower Farm: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Join us at Strawflower Farm to:
Questions? Please contact Louise at [email protected] or 610.892.7604.
- Complete work on a writing project
- Cut flowers and build your own arrangement
- Make new writing friends; see old writing friends
- Relax in a supportive and beautiful environment
- Eat a delicious dessert
- Meet the Angora Goats and Jack the Turkey
- Walk around a farm located on one of Delaware County's highest points
Questions? Please contact Louise at [email protected] or 610.892.7604.
So many flowers!
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Seasonal dessert
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Kathryne and Tamsin meet Jack the Turkey and Scout the Cat
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A great group of writers with their flowers at the end of the day.
What We’ll Do
Come out to an all day writing retreat at Strawflower Flower Farm, located on one of Delaware County's highest points. Arrive to the gazebo at 8:30am for breakfast, tea, coffee, and a chance to meet everyone. Starting at 9:00, we will assemble outdoors, with a view of the flower fields, and write on a prompt to warm us up. We will then have a one-hour block of time to work on a longer project of our choice in a variety of outdoor/highly-ventilated spaces. A lunch break in the gazebo will give us time to socialize and enjoy delicious seasonal food. After lunch, we will have another two-hour writing block, followed by sharing our progress. During this time, Louise will offer 15 minute consults on attendee's projects. At 3:30 we'll enjoy some dessert, with another chance to socialize. At 4:00 we'll step into the high tunnels to cut flowers and create our own arrangements.
What We’ll Provide
Breakfast and Dessert
Enjoy a delicious, seasonal dessert as we conclude the day.
Coffee, Tea, and Water
We'll start the day with coffee and tea. Beverages will be available throughout the day.
What to Bring
Review: Chapin Cimino: So glad I choose to spend this day writing with others just like me (and the animals, of course!). Heartwarming AND productive day.
Come out to an all day writing retreat at Strawflower Flower Farm, located on one of Delaware County's highest points. Arrive to the gazebo at 8:30am for breakfast, tea, coffee, and a chance to meet everyone. Starting at 9:00, we will assemble outdoors, with a view of the flower fields, and write on a prompt to warm us up. We will then have a one-hour block of time to work on a longer project of our choice in a variety of outdoor/highly-ventilated spaces. A lunch break in the gazebo will give us time to socialize and enjoy delicious seasonal food. After lunch, we will have another two-hour writing block, followed by sharing our progress. During this time, Louise will offer 15 minute consults on attendee's projects. At 3:30 we'll enjoy some dessert, with another chance to socialize. At 4:00 we'll step into the high tunnels to cut flowers and create our own arrangements.
What We’ll Provide
Breakfast and Dessert
Enjoy a delicious, seasonal dessert as we conclude the day.
Coffee, Tea, and Water
We'll start the day with coffee and tea. Beverages will be available throughout the day.
What to Bring
- Notebooks
- Pens/pencils
- Laptop and charger
- An open mind
- A sense of fun and adventure
- Your lunch
- A water bottle
Review: Chapin Cimino: So glad I choose to spend this day writing with others just like me (and the animals, of course!). Heartwarming AND productive day.
Review:
The Lansdowne Writer's Workshop has much to offer. It is always inspiring to work with Louise Bierig who is a dedicated writer, herself. She provides great prompts to get the creativity flowing and gives excellent, constructive, positive feedback. Don't forget to sign up for her upcoming workshops - you'll be glad that you did! -Patrica King Haddad
The Lansdowne Writer's Workshop has much to offer. It is always inspiring to work with Louise Bierig who is a dedicated writer, herself. She provides great prompts to get the creativity flowing and gives excellent, constructive, positive feedback. Don't forget to sign up for her upcoming workshops - you'll be glad that you did! -Patrica King Haddad
Review:
I appreciate Louise's expertise and the varied writing experiences we had in our class. Also, it is fun to join other writers creating characters and stories together~even attempting things I have never experienced before like screenwriting. There is always the opportunity to share what one writes with the rest of the group, but there is no pressure to do so. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the group for our next session of eight weeks together.
-Olivia Powell
I appreciate Louise's expertise and the varied writing experiences we had in our class. Also, it is fun to join other writers creating characters and stories together~even attempting things I have never experienced before like screenwriting. There is always the opportunity to share what one writes with the rest of the group, but there is no pressure to do so. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the group for our next session of eight weeks together.
-Olivia Powell
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Review: I came to the workshop thinking it would be complicated. I expected all my You Ain't No Real Writer demons to have a field day. Instead, I found a space to come sit and just write with good people who want to do the same. Because it is who they are, and of all the ways they make lives in this world, writing is the one they love the most. A space led by a most precisely talented and uniquely amazing writer-teacher, whose well-rounded understanding of the craft is only outdone by her understanding of how to curate the best snacks.
You know the classic about once being lost and now being found? The workshop returned to me something I love so much that I couldn't even admit was lost (but it was!). I got back that feeling when my pen hits the paper, running, and I am myself. - Janine de Novais |
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Review: This is a great workshop. Louise is terrific. I was in the Sept. Oct. workshop and enjoyed it so much I’ll be back for the Nov. Dec. session.
-Thomas Connell |
Review: This workshop was the perfect place to kickstart (restart, really) my writing after taking a break of several years. It's supportive, creative, and full of smart folks with keen insight.
-Martha Michaela Hutchman Brown
-Martha Michaela Hutchman Brown
“I hold this to be the highest task of a bond between two people: that each should stand guard over the solitude of the other.” -Rilke
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Review:
Louise Bierig is a great instructor, who encourages a supportive, workshop environment each week, conducive to the creative process. -Guinevere Janes |