Write Around Portland is a terrific nonprofit that provides free writing workshops for underserved populations, giving them a chance to acquire new skills and new self-awareness. They’ve done workshops with people in prison, folks living in low income housing communities, people in treatment centers–all kinds of people in all walks of life. They do tremendous good in my community!

In October, I’ll be teaching a class at Write Around Portland’s offices. It’s actually a fundraiser for the organization–I’m donating my time so the class fees can go to help needier folks. It’ll be two hours of writing exercises and discussion that I think will be fun and rewarding.

Here are the details:

BUILDING WORLDS AND PEOPLE: USING SCI-FI TECHNIQUES IN ANY GENRE WITH WENDY N. WAGNER

Spend Saturday, October 15 from 2-4pm writing with author and Hugo award-winning editor Wendy N. Wagner!

Science fiction is at its best when the ideas are fantastical—but the settings are gritty and the characters multi-dimensional. The same techniques science fiction writers use to make you believe in their wild worlds and adventurers are just as useful for those writing romance, historical fiction, or anything else. Prepare for lots of hands-on writing time as you learn how to deepen your characters and make their environments unforgettable.

This is a special, two-hour workshop to benefit Write Around Portland.

Location: 133 SW 2nd Ave. Suite 304, Downtown Portland

Fee: $35

Pre-registration is required.

To sign up or for more information call 503-796-9224 or register online now.

If you’re a writer, I hope you’ll sign up. And if you’re a reader, do check out Write Around Portland—you can pick up their anthologies at Powell’s and other local bookstores.