Roberta Allen Art & Writing
R o b e r t a A l l e n C r e a t i v e W r i t i n g W o r k s h o p s C e l e b r a t i n g 3 5 y e a r s
In-Person Classes & Zoom Workshops & One-on-One
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The Five-Minute Energy Method
ENERGY is the force behind the words, the desire to bring forth something that has never before existed. My method is basic. It has helped beginning and seasoned writers for 35 years.
Simple 5-minute prompts are only the beginning. I will teach you to use The Energy Method every step of the way to revise your prompts into very short/flash/micro stories and more.
How do you know if an exercise has energy? You feel something, maybe only a glimmer, maybe only a single sentence or phrase that moves you or excites you enough to make you feel like writing more. This is a process of becoming aware of what works and what doesn't by focusing on how it makes you feel--whether it has energy or not. You will make missteps but that's fine, that's part of the process.
You will also learn why certain choices work better than others, as you learn the fundamentals or improve your craft. Voice, point of view, character, conflict and rhythm will be explored through the lens of feeling to create intense fictions that use language with power and precision, focusing on energy every step of the way.
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"A year ago I was a beginning fiction writer. I never imagined writing fiction could be so exciting and how much I could learn in a very short time."
--Britt Ciampa, Visual Effects Artist and musician
"Roberta has been an enormous help and inspiration on my novel. She has helped me make a clear and concise outline so I see the trajectory of the plot. Within each scene, she helps me further the plot and development of the characters."
--Stephanie Hart, author of Mirror Mirror, a collection of Memoirs and Stories
"Roberta's simple techniques and prompts inspired me to write micro fictions. I came away with ten micro stories and a new confidence."
--Judyth Emanuel, author of the novel, Yeh Hell Ow
Every class is tailored to your particular needs. You will read out loud, get feedback at each session, draw further inspiration from selected readings and through discussion and critique.
Roberta is a pioneer of very short stories before they were called flash fictions. She taught the first university course devoted to the form in 1991 at The New School. She taught there for many years, and also at Columbia University, NYU, and other schools. She is the author of nine books, including four story collections and over 300 stories in literary magazines and anthologies.Her books have been praised in The New York Times Book Review.
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"You have inspired me beyond words! Thank you for starting me on this journey."
--Francine Witte, Author of many books, including The Way of the Wind, a flash novella, and Dressed All Wrong for This, flash fiction.
"What you taught me over the years was invaluable. Your encouragement and guidance motivated me to keep writing."
--Larry Silberfein, Creative Director & published short story writer
"I never thought I had the talent to write until I had Roberta's guidance and support."
--Lisa Grossman, Life Coach, Writer
"Roberta helped me push through writer's block and tell the stories I wanted to tell. Her classes were invaluable."
--Will Ryman, Artist and Playwright
"She is always insightful and most perceptive commenting on all students' work which gives me the confidence to explore without fear."
--Marilise Trotto, Actor
"Roberta really tunes in to each writer and almost by osmosis knows what each one wants to say even before the writer does."
--Susan Shaw, Artist & published writer
"Roberta's insightful feedback has greatly improved my writing."
--Paul Wirhun, Artist