This is a huge site on the web: created by Bob Hembree (Editor of T-Zero Quaterly), and run by Mr. Hembree and many, many assistants (some have web logs: check out author and mentor “benning” Benning’s Writing Pad ; Joni’s site, One Voice; 0r June Diehl , who has a wonderful book) . I’ve been a member for about five years (I think it’s five, I became a life member this year) and I’ve found many new friends like Laurel Wilczek (aka Raven) already an excellent writer, Susan Fourtane from way back and covering the arts scene in Helsinki, “Granny” (now a mentor); these are the ones with web links that I know of but there are so many names (and nicknames) I should add – Maruxa (also mentoring, I see now – my apologies), “Grumps” , Malkeet, “Otter”, “Greywolf”, Gloria, “Shriek”, Sonja … and many many more (as I will be writing about these groups from time to time, I’m sure I’ll be covering most omissions) .
But it wasn’t my intention (nor would it be interesting) to make an extensive list of all my friends, old and new, here. There is one item in this Writers’ Village that should get our attention now:
F2K
It’s Bob Hembree’s creation (I think the name derived from “F” for “Fiction” followed by whatever year that course would be – until 2000, nine years ago and the “2K” stuck). It’s held four times a year and the next one starts this Wednesday 20th. of May. It is free to anyone – literally anyone, not only members, there is a first week of “Orientation”, where everyone can introduce themselves (user names, as you’ve seen before are both acceptable and varied); then there are six lessons – groups of exercises, surprisingly simple ones but the several times I’ve done it I’ve been astonished how quickly subscribers progress, specially beginners (though many drop out, there is no obligation to remain but one does so by keeping up to date with the assignments). There are also many experienced writers that join – I’ve been doing this for nearly half a century and each time I’m humbled and overjoyed at finding how good fresh new talent can be, or can become. The final exercise can often produce a finished, or nearly finished, story – that alone is reason enough to join. We post our exercises, within a study group small enough to allow each to follow the others work (all subscribers are split up into groups, each group has a mentor to resolve posting questions and provide prompts and encouragement, but there is no impediment in visiting and participating in any other group): so we polish each others exercises . It really works extremely well. *
There is an option, by paying a small fee, of getting “one on one” assistance from one of the W.V. University mentors.
I’ll be joining this coming session (I appear as “Q”). Perhaps we meet there?
F2K – Free Creative Writing Course – Wednesday 20th. of May 2009
* Since posting this I’ve been reminded of the best and most notable feature of this course. (thank you meer!), quoted roughly: “The joy of discovering true camaraderie in writing … learning how to have fun, and not be so uptight and even fearful about our writing …. How right, and how true that after a while we just take it for granted. There are many course, many tutors and even more books – but few have the lighthearted touch (with some pretty earnest learning, but one hardly notices that) as this course – and then later, if one should choose to join, in the groups and courses at the WVU. I don’t know how I could forget that, in this post.
Meanwhile – Hasta pronto!
Q
Sphere: Related Content
Is back … new theme, new year and a new F2K session at the Writer’s Village University. About seven weeks; open to all and free! A wonderful opportunity for all: beginners may test their skills; old recidivists, polish up forgotten ones: and finally, for those that make it all the way, a good story at the end.
Writing | Q | 
January 5, 2010 6:11 pm | 
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