Writing   

Let’s spend an afternoon Writing Like the Wind—wild, fast, and free—in response to creative prompts. There are no rules and no pressure, just writing whatever comes to mind during short, timed sessions. We’ll share our writing aloud, not for critique but simply to be heard and supported. It’s a fun, energizing way to spark ideas and enjoy the company of fellow writers. Open to both brand-new and experienced writers.

Meta Mendel-Reyes is a former labor organizer and professor, who has taught several courses for OLLI. She has led many workshops on anti-racism.

This offering is Hybrid

This group meets every week from September to June, except for holidays. There are no specific assignments. Writers strive to find their own subject matter and stylistic voice. Each week, several of us read our work aloud, and others respond to its content, structure, and clarity. The important thing is to write well enough to interest others and to clearly convey our ideas. Everyone is expected to read regularly and to respond constructively to class members' work. One may participate in person or online.

Eleanor Linn joined this group in 2007 when it was led by Helen Hill, who originated its successful format. She has continued writing and reading her work to the group, in addition to leading it since 2014. She is a published author. Her pieces include an extended memoir about Central Afghanistan, which is now, among other places, in the UNESCO Afghan Archives, and a collection of essays about Wave1.5 Feminists, who were born between 1900 and 1920.

Please join me for a workshop on writing our own original poems. We will consider what a poem is and where poets find topics. We will work on writing exercises as well as writing original poems that we'll share with each other to get the special benefit of an audience. Bring a notebook and a pen, or your laptop. For the first session, please write a five-word memoir, describing yourself. It's a way to experiment with few but carefully selected words. Expect to read it aloud as we introduce ourselves at our first meeting.

Ginny Bentz is a former English teacher who has led several poetry writing study groups over the past few years. In retirement, she enjoys writing poems as well as working with people who'd like to put some of their thoughts, experiences, and memories into the compact space of a poem to share with others.

Participants read their original written work to the group and receive constructive criticism (everything from correcting spelling and punctuation to suggestions for extension of the theme). The genre may be short story, novel, memoir, essay, poetry, or any form you can make up.

Jerry Janusz, a retired mathematician from the University of Illinois, has led this study group for more than ten years.

In this engaging study group, participants will learn how to tell the stories of their lives and those of their ancestors. We will meet weekly to share and reflect, and each participant should come prepared to read a story they have written. This is a supportive space for developing your voice and preserving meaningful memories through storytelling.

Jan Price calls herself a “very amateur memoirist” who has written her story after being motivated by an OLLI class. She has taught memoir writing for over 10 years.