Welcome to Off Campus Writers Workshop (OCWW), the oldest continuously running writing workshop in the country. | Established in 1946, OCWW continues to serve writers of all genres in the greater metropolitan Chicago area. Each Thursday morning between September and May, OCWW speakers address writers on topics ranging from craft to publishing options to the business of writing. Many of our speakers offer professional manuscript critiques for a reasonable fee. Achieve your individual writing goals while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow writers. Join us. More questions? Email us. |
Become a MemberMembership to OCWW is just $35 per year. While you do not need to be a member to attend season programs, OCWW membership offers outstanding privileges.
| SubscribeNot ready to become a member? Subscribe to receive emails about OCWW events. | Become a SpeakerOCWW speakers offer programs and workshops on a wide variety of topics related to writing of all kinds, from craft to markets to publishing. Contact us if you are an expert and would like to present at OCWW. |
Upcoming events
OCWW Summer Program In July and August Bobbie Ruby will lead two summer critiques and two prompt sessions. Email Bobbie at rubybard@earthlink.net if you wish to attend. What is a Critique Group? Summer Critique is a group open to all kinds of writing—fiction, nonfiction, memoir, genre, writing for children etc. Members read their work to the group and get feedback that will make it better—clearer, tighter, etc. What is a Prompt Session? Bring something to write with (pencil, quill pen,) and something to write on (paper, laptop). The leader gives a word or a phrase, usually something that can be taken many ways. You start writing whatever the subconscious presents. You don’t think, you just write. Spelling and grammar don’t count. At the end of the writing time, we each read what we wrote to the group. Then we go around quickly and tell the author the words or phrases or images that were strong or vivid or resonated. Resonance calls up in the reader a feeling that says the writing rings true. Prompts help you get past your internal editor or critic. It is a great way to discover back story. Also a sneaky way to break writer’s block. You can explore a prompt in your own voice as memoir or nonfiction, or in the voice of a character in your fiction writing WHEN Critique Group Thursday 9:30 July 6 and August 3 Prompt Session Thursday 9:30 july 13 and August 10 You can come to any or all of these programs. Please email Bobbie each time if you are coming to be sure we have enough chairs. WHERE At Bobbie Ruby’s home near Golf and McCormick (TJ Maxx) in Skokie. Email her at rubybard@earthlink.net for directions COST FREE, but you must be a member of OCWW for either 2016-17 or 2017-18. You can join OCWW and pay your membership at the meeting. WHO IS BOBBIE RUBY? Bobbie is a former OCWW Board Member. She has published a YA biography of Sir Francis Drake for Scholastic, short stories in Cobblestone, Woman’s World, and Twilight Tales. Her hymn lyrics won a national prize. She has led critique groups and prompt sessions in several venues. Email rubybard@earthlink.net if you are interested in attending and for directions. |
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