Walking and writing in the woods

Writers & Books has started a new program called "Beyond Reading," which involves a number of events focusing on a single book. The first selection is Bill Bryson's often hilarious "A Walk in the Woods." The book details his ill-formed plans to walk with the entire Appalachian Trail in one year.

The kick-off event is a walking book discussion Oct. 1 in Ellison Park for children (age 8 and up) and their parents. Sounds like the perfect event for middle school writers. Registration is due by Tuesday, Sept. 27. Cost is just $4, and includes a journal to use on the hike.

Other seated and walking discussions are scheduled throughout the month. For more information, visit http://www.wab.org/. To register or ask questions about the event, email karen@WAB.org.

Creating writing majors make Rochester history

I just visited a new exhibit in the Rochester Historical Society Center inside of the Rundel Memorial Library downtown and was please to see SOTA creative writing majors playing a small role in this historic display. The exhibit is all about Rochester businesses, with nearly one for every decade that the historical society has been around (150 years, but the 17 featured businesses go back even farther.) As I was looking at the display about the youngest business -- Writers & Books, at 30 years of age -- I realized I was staring at some familiar faces. There were creative writing majors Clara O'Connor and Amelia Carter looking back at me, along with fellow soon-to-be-a-SOTA-sophmore Sophie Dempster-Greenbaum and other teens from the mother-daughter book club they attend. The photo was taken during The Good Thief author Hannah Tinti's appearance at Writers and Books last March. If you're interested in seeing your classmates in this little bit of history, the show is up through Sept. 29. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for those under 18.

Something to do this summer, with Painting

Former SOTA creative writing teacher Tom Painting returns to Rochester in July to teach a class at Writers & Books: "Haiku and the Ah-Ha Moment." The class is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. Cost is $43 for the general public and $39 for Writers & Books members.

Here's the course description: Get on board the English language haiku movement. This three-hour course will explore some of the best haiku currently being written in English as way toward inspiration and composing haiku of our own. Particular focus on the “ah-ha” moment will reveal the key ingredient of a successful haiku. Although this course is generative in nature, writers are encouraged to bring previously written haiku of their own for fine tuning in a congenial workshop atmosphere. All materials provided by instructor.

For more information, or to register online, visit http://www.wab.org/.