Free Fall Baltimore 2017: CityLit Studio II

CityLit Project will present CityLit Studio II: Writers on Craft, Creativity & Community on Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at Nancy by SNAC Cafe, 131 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how writers craft great stories, at CityLit Project's encore Studio program dedicated to the people and processes behind the best literature being created in Baltimore today! This event is FREE, but as part of Free Fall Baltimore, attendees must register at Eventbrite … (Space is limited, and doors close at 6:30pm.)
This is a special evening of readings and conversation on the writer's craft. The presentation includes readings by two authors in different genres, information and discussions of key aspects of craft to improve your writing, and the importance of finding artistic communities. Emerging and serious writers, as well as the general public interested in writing and reading, will get a unique look behind the writing and process of two of the region's rising literary stars: Derrick Weston Brown and Jocquelyn Downs. Handouts will be provided, and a Q & A will follow the readings and lectures.

Writers on Craft, Creativity & Community

Bring It Back, Come Rewind with Derrick Weston Brown

Restorative Practices for Poets & Writers to Keep Their Writing Fires Burning When Inspiration Ain’t Enuf!
Too often, writers find themselves in a space where the words won’t come, can’t come. There are other times where writers find themselves in a space where they are not satisfied with what they are writing, or even how the words are arriving to the page. There are other times when writers find themselves grappling with the unnerving reality that their beloved genre may not be the accurate vehicle for the words they need to write. Each of these moments can stall one’s writing momentum and in some cases torpedo enthusiasm. This 40-minute talk by Poet and Cultural Curator Derrick Weston Brown will discuss the ways in which writers can both return to the source of their writing fire by utilizing a series of exercises and resources to engage writers in finding their own way back from a loss of words.

Screenwriting 101: Who's Story is this Anyway? with Jocquelyn Downs
In this workshop, Jocquelyn (Jackie) Downs will help writers sharpen skills that will help awaken the imagination, learn techniques to create layered and meaningful worlds, and explore tips on personalizing universal themes within the dramatic medium to help them write a screenplay. Writers will also learn how to execute their work in proper screenwriting format and discuss tips on how to submit their work to writing competitions. There will also be time for some writers to create scenes in workshop and receive feedback. Many of the skills and techniques discussed may be applied to all forms of creative writing.

*Brown holds an MFA in Creative Writing from American University. He is the founding Poet-In-Residence of Busboys and Poets. He is a graduate of the Cave Canem and VONA summer workshops. His work has been published and featured in such print journals and online publications as, The This Mag, JoINT, Colorlines and The Tidal Basin Review. His debut collection of poetry, Wisdom Teeth, was released in 2011 through PM Press. He resides in Mount Rainier, Maryland. You can follow him on social media on Facebook (David Weston Brown), Instagram (@theoriginalDerrickWestonBrown) or through his website: DerrickWestonBrown.com.

*Downs is a writer, filmmaker, educator, and spoken word artist. In 2011, Love Languages, her thesis film, was showcased in the Cannes International Film Festival's Short Film Corner. She has written, directed and produced original plays and musical productions that have been produced at McGlohon Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. She’s worked closely with students for ten years in Washington, DC and around the country, and develops curricula for a variety of courses and ages groups ranging from middle school to college. As a high school Fine Arts instructor, Jackie taught courses including Creative Writing, Theater Arts, Public Speaking, and Music Appreciation. She has led directing workshops at high schools, and has worked as a Dramatic Arts Teaching Artist for the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. She is currently the Regional Director for Writopia Lab.