July Writing Workshops for Advanced Writers and Academics

During July 2021, the Collegeville Institute hosted two writing workshops online: one for advanced prose writers, and one for religious scholars in collaboration with the Wabash Center.

Participants met over zoom, learned writing techniques from skilled teachers, and had the opportunity to share their own writing-in-progress with each other.

In The Thick of It: Explorations of Advanced Topics in Prose Writing with Lauren F. Winner was held online from Wednesday, July 7 to Friday, July 17, 2021. This workshop was designed for people in the midst of writing a creative nonfiction book that has religious themes. Small pods of participants met to offer feedback on each other’s drafts during the workshop, as well as critique shorter excerpts as a large group.

2021 In the Thick of It participants (from top left to right): Rachel Pieh Jones, Carla Durand (CI staff), Katrina Vandenburg, Lauren F. Winner (workshop leader), Lyndsey Medford, Marlana (Lana) Portolano, Kara Balcerzak, Jenifer (Jen) Hemphill, and Arthur Boers.

One participant reflected: “It was good to read books in-process and then to hear the writers discuss how they felt about it, where they felt stuck or struggling, and which parts they loved and why. Reading and then talking through each one together forced me to consider new aspects of writing and to ask better questions of my own work.”

“Lauren was such a thoughtful, smart, compassionate, straight-talking workshop leader and facilitator,” another writer wrote in their evaluation. “She thinks well on her feet, but she’s also really prepared. She’s a delight.”

From Wednesday, July 21 to Monday, July 26, Michael N. McGregor and Sophfronia Scott co-led the new Breaking the Academic Mold: Liberating the Powerful, Personal Voice Inside You writing workshop.

Co-sponsored with the Wabash Center, this invitation-only workshop was designed to help scholars and teachers of religion and theology to write for more general audiences.

2021 Breaking the Academic Mold participants (from top left to right): Kimberleigh Jordan, Carla Durand (CI staff), Mayra Rivera, Lakeesha Walrond, Rolf Nolasco, Michael N. McGregor (workshop leader), Ralph Watkins, Maureen O’Connell, Willie Jennings, Miguel A. De La Torre, Sophfronia Scott (workshop leader), Shively Smith, and Nami Kim. (Not pictured: Lynne Westfield.)

Through a combination of seminars, workshops, group discussions, and individual instruction, facilitators Michael N. McGregor and Sophfronia Scott helped participating scholars write in a truer, more engaging voice to reach new readers beyond the academy.

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