Two sessions at Virginia Tech will hone writing skills for teachers, students

31 Mar 2015

Educators can sharpen their writing and teaching skills in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as digital media at an all-day workshop April 18 at Virginia Tech.

Presented by the Blue Ridge Writing Project (BRWP), A Day of Writing for Teachers and Writers will feature readings, a writing marathon, and techniques for incorporating writing into classrooms. Certification points will be available for teachers.

Aileen Murphy, a senior instructor in the Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, will lead the free public workshop. Murphy is also director of the Blue Ridge Writing Project, part of the National Writing Project.

The workshop, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Hillcrest Hall, will encourage participants to share best practices, offer and receive feedback, and gain insights to make them better writers and teachers. While there is no cost for the program and lunch, registration is required by April 10.

Hillcrest Hall is located at 385 West Campus Drive on the Blacksburg campus. Visitors may park in any faculty, staff, visitor, or student parking space if they have a valid visitor parking permit and if the space is not restricted by signs. Visitor parking permits are available at the Visitor Center, 925 Prices Fork Road, during regular business hours or at the Virginia Tech Police Department in the Maintenance Complex off Southgate Drive at all other times. Go here for more parking information.

Virginia Tech and BRWP will also offer a summer writing session for children ages 10 to 18 in grades 5-12. All Write @ Virginia Tech, to be held July 20-24 on campus, will explore writing creatively for a range of media, including digital.

Students will study genres including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, memoir, illustrated writing, and digital narrative.

The cost for the weeklong summer program is $350 per student. The registration deadline is June 22. More information is available on the website or by calling 540-231-5182.