Budding writers have a chance to learn from Susanna Daniel and fellow Madisonian Michelle Wildgen (author of You're Not You, But Not for Long and the forthcoming Bread and Butter) through their new joint venture, the Madison Writers' Studio. Classes begin this fall at both authors' homes and will include narrative nonfiction and two levels of fiction writing.
Daniel says she and Wildgen felt Madison lacked intimate, craft-centered writing workshops where would-be authors could engage in a sustained, constructive critique of each other's work and of published work. They're attempting to fill a gap between 15-week university courses and shorter weekend or weeklong intensives. She points to places like the Loft in Minneapolis and similar writing centers in Chicago and Boston as models.
Most Madison Writers' Studio classes will run eight weeks and be limited to six to eight participants. Daniel, who has previously taught at Madison College and the UW, will also lead a "Novel in a Year" workshop designed to guide writers to a complete, well-structured draft of a novel in just 12 months.
"When you're writing all day in your own little hovel, you learn a lot about writing, and you want to share it. I'm desperate to get back in the classroom," she says with a laugh.
See madisonwriters.com for more information.
