Jennifer Lauck's Blog, page 2

Matthew Minicucci - Instructor (Poetry, Prose, Screenwriting)

Matthew Minicucci - Instructor
Matthew Minicucci has just moved to Portland and is a pearl of a man!  I'm so happy and honored he'll be teaching at The Studio in the fall of 2016.
Matt is the author of two collections of poetry: Translation (Kent State University Press, 2015), chosen by Jane Hirshfield for the 2014 Wick Poetry Prize, and Small Gods, forthcoming from New Issues Press in 2017. He is the recipient of fellowships and awards from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Wick Poetry Center, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his MFA. His work has appeared in or is forthcoming from numerous journals and anthologies, including Best New Poets 2014, Gettysburg Review, Kenyon Review, and The Southern Review, among others.
Making the Micro Macro Sept. 9 & 10
The Studio for Poets (Paired with Jenn Foreman) Sept. 14-Nov.

Writers Studio Summer Intensive 2016

Get away from home, pamper yourself, rest, and write.The Beach Retreat has come to the city this year.  It's the Studio Summer Intensive where we will combine writing teachings on craft, writing exercises to stimulate new ideas, personal meetings with Jennifer to plan your writing year, trips to the salon for a massage, and a couple yoga classes! 

Writers come from all over the U.S. for this once-a-year opportunity to reset their writing-selves.  These are 18 hours that will change your life. 

If you are a beginner, or someone who has taken retreats and classes before, all are welcome. Don't miss this amazing restorative weekend.

Aug. 26 - 28, Fri, Sat & Sun/10 - 4 p.m.  

$475.00 (4 spots open).  Click here to sign up!

The Blackbird Studio for Writers
4035 NE Sandy
Suite 246
Portland, OR 97232

Yoga Sat & Sun with Kris Olson (times TBA)Massages available at Dosha Salon/HawthorneAccommodation lists available upon request
NOTE:  There is no cost for the yoga but there is for the massage, though we will book your appointment.  Please let Jennifer or Cloie know, right away, if you'd like to have a massage and we'll get you costs.  
 
 

30 Week Studio Classes: 2016/17

The Studio specializes in long term literary studies.  This is an immersion group that provides support and depth studies

From Sept. 2016 to May 2017, we meet each week for three hours: 

Studio I (first year) 
Tuesday/11:30-2:30 

Studio II (second year)
Thursday/11:30-2:30

Studio III (third/fourth year)
Thursday/6:00-9:00

Studio writers read a selection of books chosen by the group, attend literary lectures, listen to podcasts by nationally known writers, and study together.  We workshop with focus on the various complexities of the literary arts including scene, structure, character development, arc, antagonistic forces and progressions.  We'll also have a mini poetry track this year, with Jenn Foreman, and this is to help break into deeper emotions within our prose.

The Studio is a committed group of writers, like you.  They support each other by setting goals, sharing the details of their full length projects, and by being there during the ups and downs of the creative process.  The Studio is a writers home base, and a safe place.

If you are interested in participating in a Studio, please write to me at jclauck@gmail.com and we'll talk about what's possible.  If you are interested in reading more about me, please click here. 

Preparing and Submitting Your Work with Holly Lorincz

I'm super happy to host Holly Lorincz at The Studio.  She is a hot shot editor, author, co-author and agent who lives right here in Oregon.  She'll be here for a full day of conversation about the publishing market, how to prepare your work to be read by editors, agents and publishers, and even how to pitch.  She will have time to talk to you about your own project, and even read some of what you are working on, in order to help you evaluate if your ready to pitch, or submit, and if you are not, what you need to do.  Holly is simply fabulous. Hard working, smart, funny.  She's a no-nonsense lady who will tell you what today's publishing business requires.  You will leave with a clear sense of how to get your work out there in the world and with tools to get your work seen! 

When:    June 4, 2016 @ 10-4 p.m. 
Where:  The Blackbird Studio for Writers
Cost:      $125.00 

Register by Clicking

Hope Edelman - Visiting Instructor

Hope Edelman - Visiting Instructor
Hope has been a personal friend for twenty years. She was one of the first writers who agreed to blurb my first book and this was a huge moment as I respected the Hope's work so much. Since that time, I've been lucky to teach for her and with her.  Now it's my great joy to offer her a space in The Studio.  
Hope joins us for a three day workshop The Story Beneath the Story in June.  In this workshop, writers will learn how to differentiate the action from meaning within their story and how to bring that meaning to the reader.  
To study with Hope is an incredible experience.  She's a wonderful, kind, compassionate teacher who is also so knowledgable about form.  
The Story Beneath the Story, Friday to Sunday, June 10-12 7 spots left
Hope has published seven nonfiction books, including the bestsellers Motherless Daughters, Motherless Mothers, and The Possibility of Everything. Her articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Real Simple, Glamour, Self, Parade, CNN.com, Writer's Digest, and the Huffington Post, as well as in numerous anthologies.  In 2012, she was inducted into the Medill Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University, her undergraduate alma mater, and in 2014 she was named an Alumni Fellow at the University of Iowa, where she attended graduate school. Hope has taught at Antioch University-LA, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Ohio State University, Northwestern University, and the University of Iowa, and leads workshops every July at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. 

Holly Lorincz - Visiting Instructor

Holly Lorincz - Visiting Instructor
I met Holly a couple years back when she was a young agent and new editor.  I was so impressed by her poise and focus.  I invited her to teach to a group of students I was working with and found she was generous, open and kind.  Honest and ambitious too.  
She's presenting again at The Blackbird Studio on June 4th to talk about preparing your writing for agent and editor review.  She'll spend the day teaching us about the publishing market at this time and the best way to launch yourself into the market.  
Preparing and Submitting Your Work, Saturday, June 4th, 10-4 p.m.   
Holly professional editor and owner of Lorincz Literary Services. She works with debut and bestselling authors, publishing houses, and the MacGregor Literary Agency, where she agented for three years. Holly's also an author, ghost writing a range of books, from memoirs to novels to prison survival handbooks, and is the published author of her own, hilarious novel, Smart Mouth.  

Holly Lorincz - Visiting Teacher

Holly Lorincz - Visiting Presenter
I met Holly a couple years back when she was a young agent and new editor.  I was so impressed by her poise and focus.  I invited her to teach to a group of students I was working with and found she was generous, open and kind.  Honest and ambitious too.  
She's presenting again at The Blackbird Studio on June 4th to talk about preparing your writing for agent and editor review.  She'll spend the day teaching us about the publishing market at this time and the best way to launch yourself into the market.  
Preparing and Submitting Your Work, Saturday, June 4th, 10-4 p.m.   
Holly professional editor and owner of Lorincz Literary Services. She works with debut and bestselling authors, publishing houses, and the MacGregor Literary Agency, where she agented for three years. Holly's also an author, ghost writing a range of books, from memoirs to novels to prison survival handbooks, and is the published author of her own, hilarious novel, Smart Mouth.  

Cloie Cohen - Studio Manager

Cloie Cohen - Administration/Consulting
I've been blessed to have Cloie on my team for almost a decade now.  She's been with me as a student, creating her terrific memoir, and also helping me coordinate special events.  She is kind, but also direct in her style of feedback and support.  
At The Studio, she is the administrator of The Urban Retreat, and Studio III.  She also co-manages workshops, and manages communications between students.  Cloie has a degree from PSU and works as the Community Coordinator at Childpeace Montessori, where she's been on staff since 1998.  
As a consult on your writing project, Cloie offers on point and practical feedback.  She gives terrific, positive advice on how you can grow your work to the next level.  With Cloie, you feel heard and supported.  She is compassionate, and knowledgable.  
Contact me for details on how to work with Cloie.  Jclauck@gmail.com.  Or contact her directly: cloiecohen@gmail.com

Jennifer Foreman - Poet in Residence

Jennifer Foreman - Poet in Residence
I came across Jenn Foreman at a workshop in the spring of 2015.  Right away, I was dazzled by her authentic, and transparent way of being and creating.  She is one of those fearless writers who inspires fearlessness in people around her.  She graduated from Texas Woman's University with a degree in social work, and has been published in The Sun, Timberline Review, and Voice Catcher.  Right now she's at work on a memoir and a collection of grief poems.  
After inviting Jenn to teach a one day workshop at The Studio, I was blown away by her compassion, knowledge, and bawdy good humor.  She is a rare gem.   
To study with Jenn is a memorable and life changing experience.  She holds space for her students to be vulnerable and honest.  She teaches poetry at the most practical, accessible way I've ever seen too! Join her for workshops this fall. 
Poetry Studio A - Monday nights, 5:30-7:30, Sept. 19 - Oct. 10Poetry Studio B - Monday nights, 5:30-7:30, Oct. 17 - Nov. 14
Jenn's always available for consults on poetry and prose.  For details, contact me at Jclauck@gmail.com.

Jennifer Lauck - Studio Director/Instructor

Jennifer Lauck - Director
I created The Blackbird Studio for Writers after 30 years of studying with teachers like Tom Spanbauer (Dangerous Writers), and Diana Abu Jaber (PSU), and in the literary programs of PSU, Montana State University and Pacific Lutheran University.  I have a BA in journalism and a MFA in Creative Writing.  I've taught for more than fifteen years, in private workshops, at seminars and conferences like AWP, for Portland Literary Arts in the Schools program, and as a Sr. Fellow at The Attic Institute.

Now I have launched my own program.

The name Blackbird comes from my first book, and from the Beatles song that tells us to: Take these broken wings and learn how to fly.  That's what we do at this school.  We take you as you are, and teach you how to get your story into the world.

Personally, I'm a consummate student.  I love to learn.  And, I love to learn with people who are open, inquisitive, proactive and focused.  I detest the snobbism in the literary world and created this space to be the opposite.  The Studio is welcoming, comfortable and empowering.

As I prefer immersion work (this is writing, after all, and writing is a difficult art form), I offer three 30 week long classes called Studio I, Studio II and Studio III.  Each studio is for a different level and experience of writer.  Studio I is entry level, Studio III is the most advanced.  I also consult, long term, with four writers a year, and see a handful of writers for individual consults as I'm available.  If you are interested in any of the classes or services I offer, please click on the links below, read more. Finally, send me a note.  Let's see if we can get you going at The Studio!

Consult Services
Bones of Storytelling, Friday to Sunday, May 20-22
Studio I, Sept. 13 - May 20, 2016-2017, Tues. 11:30-2:30
Studio II, Sept. 15 - May 20, 2016-2017, Thurs. 11:30-2:30
Studio III, Sept. 15 - May 20, 2016-2017, Thurs. 6:00-9:00