pima community college creative writing

Learn to communicate effectively through the written word by taking courses that focus on writing and literature.

• GTW 101 - Writing for Trades and Technical Occupations
• JRN 101 - Introduction to Reporting and Media Writing [SUN# JRN 2201]
• JRN 102 - Survey of Media Communications
• JRN 185 - News Publishing
• JRN 240 - Editing, Layout, and Design
• JRN 280 - Photojournalism
• JRN 285 - Advanced News Publication
• JRN 290 - Journalism Internship
• LIT 224 - Southwestern Literature
• LIT 225 - Science Fiction Literature
• LIT 231 - Introduction to Shakespeare
• LIT 261 - Modern Literature
• LIT 261HC - Modern Literature: Honors
• LIT 262 - American Poets
• LIT 265 - Major American Writers
• LIT 280 - Introduction to Literature
• LIT 289 - Literature and Film
• LIT 289HC - Literature and Film: Honors
• WRT 090 - English Composition Fundamentals
• WRT 101 - English Composition I [SUN# ENG 1101]
• WRT 101HC - English Composition I: Honors
• WRT 101S - English Composition I / Integrated Studio
• WRT 101SE - English Composition I with Second Language Support / Studio
• WRT 102 - English Composition II [SUN# ENG 1102]
• WRT 102HC - English Composition II: Honors
• WRT 125 - Beginning Poetry Writing
• WRT 126 - Basics of Short Story Writing
• WRT 154 - Career Communications
• WRT 162 - Literary Magazine Workshop
• WRT 196 - Independent Studies in Writing
• WRT 205 - Introduction to Poetry Writing
• WRT 206 - Short Story Writing
• WRT 207 - Creative Nonfiction
• WRT 215 - Advanced Poetry Writing
• WRT 216 - Advanced Fiction Writing
• WRT 217 - Advanced Creative Nonfiction
• WRT 226 - Special Projects in Fiction
• WRT 254 - Advanced Professional Communications

Beginning Writer's Workshop

If you have a story that needs to be written, an online writing workshop is a great place to start. This course will help improve your writing skills and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles.

Requirements

Some of the best works of fiction and nonfiction were crafted in a writer's workshop. This online course will help you write your own creative piece. Like a true writing workshop, you will learn literary techniques, peer review a classmate's work, and receive constructive criticism on your work.

In addition, you will learn how to move your work from the prewriting stage to editing and final revision. You will also learn how to use literary devices, meaningful dialogue, and imagery in your different drafts. By the end of this online workshop, you will have a thoroughly developed creative writing piece. You might even be ready for publication!

Enrollment Options:

Lesson 1 - preparing to write, lesson 2 - brainstorming, lesson 3 - literary devices, lesson 4 - genres, lesson 5 - peer review/workshop, lesson 6 - story, plot, and narrative, lesson 7 - characters and dialogue, lesson 8 - points of view and tense, lesson 9 - descriptive writing, lesson 10 - overcoming writer's block, lesson 11 - editing vs. revision, lesson 12 - getting published.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word is recommended (not included in enrollment).
• QuickTime .
• Adobe Acrobat Reader .
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Carmen Marquez

Carmen Marquez is a seasoned journalist, writer, and writing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and teaching certificate from Montclair State University.

Instructor Interaction : The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

• P&W on Facebook
• P&W on Twitter
• P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

• Subscribe Now

Pima Community College

Writing/journalism instructional faculty.

• Printable Version
• Log in to Send
• Log in to Save

Posting Number: 18F3H10464 Position Type: Faculty - General Funding  Salary: $44,670–$53,606 Note: Compensation (salary/hourly rates) are reviewed by the Board of Governors annually and are subject to change. Salary Breakdown: Annually  Job List: External  Close Date: Monday, January 7, 2019 at 5:00 pm

About Pima Community College

Pima Community College is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.  We value the diversity of our workforce and seek to hire and support employees who consistently and actively embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.  We are intentional about social justice, and addressing issues of equity and inclusion, as well as institutional, structural, and environmental inequity, power and privilege.  See our Diversity website for additional information about our commitment.

Pima Community College is committed to becoming a premier community college, one that is built on a foundation of student success, community engagement, and diversity. We hire people who:

• set and meet high standards
• believe in service and accountability
• have a passion for learning
• are creative
• understand the first-generation college student experience             
• are knowledgeable about the challenges of underprivileged populations 
• are knowledgeable about the traditions and culture of the populations of the Southwest,  including Latinos and Native Americans
• have cultural sensitivity and understanding of needs of differently-abled, veterans, LGBTQ

We are one of the largest multi-campus community colleges in the nation, opening our doors to nearly 45,000 credit and noncredit students each year. With six campuses and more than 100 learning sites, we are a comprehensive community college, offering learners of all backgrounds and ages a variety of opportunities to meet their educational goals:

• University transfer programs
• Occupational education programs
• Adult Education/HSE preparation
• Workforce and Business Development
• Continuing Education

The College meets the needs of the community by offering instruction when and how our students want it: evenings, weekends, year-round, in traditional classroom settings, online, in web-classroom hybrids, and in semester-long or accelerated formats. Employees can expect to participate in innovative, flexible scheduling, in keeping with the College’s vision, to provide access to learning without the limits of time, place, or distance.

Pima Community College is in Tucson, an inclusive and welcoming oasis in the Arizona desert. A cosmopolitan community just 65 miles from the Mexico border, Tucson is enriched by a tapestry of vibrant cultures. Tucson enjoys nearly 300 sunny days a year, and, as the city sits in a valley surrounded by four mountain ranges, residents can travel from the saguaro-studded desert floor to inviting pine forests in 45 minutes. With a population of about 1 million, metropolitan Tucson boasts excellent schools, hundreds of miles of hiking trails and cycling paths, affordable housing, an active LGBTQ community, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and an up-and-coming downtown. In all, Tucson is as great a place to live.

Additional information about the College may be found at www.pima.edu .

Summary of Position    

Position is available beginning the 2019–20 fiscal year as a nine-month contract. Faculty teach and work a set schedule over a nine-month academic year, August–May, that could include day, evening, and weekend duties.

Writing Faculty—The position is for someone to teach the studio co-requisite model of first-year composition (WRT 101S) and/or first-year composition (WRT 101 + WRT 102).   

Journalism Faculty—The position is to provide instruction in the study of journalism and its practices.  Priorities include candidates with interest and/or experience in teaching all levels of media/reporting, either print or online, which will include a highly varied schedule that will include afternoons and evenings.

Duties and Responsibilities 

General Duties:

• Instruct students and work with them on strategies to help them achieve academic success                   
• Use current, effective classroom management techniques                 
• Monitor and continuously improve instruction to ensure Student Learning Outcomes are met on a classroom, discipline/program, and College level       
• Evaluate student performance            
• Continually improve instruction utilizing appropriate delivery methods         
• Evaluate and revise course outlines and course materials
• Provide academic advising      
• Maintain competency and currency in the teaching fields as well as in teaching strategies, subject delivery modalities, and assessment methods     
• Serve actively as a member of the department and discipline groups    
• Participate in fostering partnerships that strengthen educational opportunities in response to community needs     
• Represent the department and/or campus on college-wide committees          
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students and utilize a collegial style in all forms of communication

The ideal candidate will have knowledge, skills, and abilities related to:

• Teaching a broad range of courses in journalism including mass media, media news and reporting, and occupational journalism, including print and digital media
• Teaching first-year composition courses 
• Student learning styles: ability to adapt and modify instruction based on the instructional needs of students, including working with accommodations and accessibility
• Assessment instruments and their interpretation: knowledge of appropriate and effective use of assessment information to improve instruction
• Evaluation of students' educational progress: ability to maintain high instruction and learning standards and assess students' academic progress in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes
• Teaching in traditional and non-traditional formats such as online, web-enhanced, and D2L courses: knowledge of curriculum development, course design, and delivery
• Techniques for academic advising: knowledge of the resources available to students to assist them with academic and personal challenges, and ability to help students access those resources
• Competencies in multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusivity: knowledge of diverse community college student populations, and the ability to address diversity in effective instructional practice and student learning
• Mission: appreciation for the Community College mission

Job Requirements 

Minimum qualifications requirements for faculty positions are governed by our faculty qualification standards. This position is in an Academic discipline and requires the following to obtain Pima Community College teaching certification:

• Master’s degree in the field of study OR
• Master’s degree in any discipline and 18 graduate semester hours in the field of study OR
• In-progress doctoral dissertation (proposal defended) in any discipline and 24 graduate semester hours in the field of study

Acceptable fields include:

• Fields of study (discipline/subfields) for Journalism are: journalism; mass communications; communication studies; other closely related field
• Fields of study (discipline/subfields) for Writing are: writing; composition and rhetoric; English; teaching of English; literature; journalism; other closely related field

Other Requirements: The selected candidate will:

• Work a flexible schedule including afternoons and evenings as needed to meet student demand
• Have experience with innovative teaching methodologies
• Have journalism/communications background, preferably as a writer and/or editor
• Have college classroom instruction experience teaching both developmental writing courses and first-year composition
• Have a student-centered teaching philosophy and demonstrate the ability to adapt and modify writing instruction based on the instructional needs of students
• Will show experience with curriculum development and course design for developmental and academic transfer Writing courses
• Shows understanding of developmental and academic writing theory and current issues, trends, advances, research, and practices impacting the teaching of developmental and academic transfer writing.
• Exhibit strong writing skills
• Possibly work at more than one Pima Community College Campus, depending on need

Please refer to the College Employees Personnel Policy Statement, under the section Benefits at: pima.edu/administrative-services/human-resources/ personnel-policy-statements/common-policy.html.

Directions for Applying and Other Important Information

Degrees and courses qualifying for Pima Community College teaching certification must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants currently in progress for a degree or additional coursework to meet the minimum qualifications must have the degree conferred and/or coursework completed by May 2019.

A degree from any college outside of the United States (even if the transcript is in English) may need to be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service. Pima Community College requires that applicants use an evaluation agency that is a member of NACES or AACRAO's corporate partners.

Before ordering an evaluation, check with the Faculty Certification Office to confirm whether you will need to complete this step.

To submit an application you must include the documents that are listed within the application form as required.  Documents listed as optional do not have to be attached in order to submit the application. Follow the directions in the application form to upload your documents.  At minimum, these documents are required:

• Resume. This should be up to date and account for and describe all gaps in employment.  
• Letter of interest or cover letter. This is a description of your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience related to the duties and responsibilities of the position, as well as the strengths you would bring to the assignment. The letter should not exceed three (3) pages.

Unofficial copies of transcripts. These must be                     

• for all post-secondary degrees you have listed in your application              
• legible (front and back) and show the name of the regionally accredited institution, the degree conferred, and the page(s) explaining the institution's grading system    
• attached to the application even if they have been submitted in the past                      

The selected candidate(s) must provide Faculty Certification with official (unopened) transcripts and/or official (unopened) foreign transcript evaluation.

Selection Process:

The selection process typically consists of one or two advisory group interview(s), a teaching demonstration, and an administrative interview.

Candidates invited to the interview process will be chosen from those who most closely meet the stated requirements. Meeting these qualifications does not guarantee an interview.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please call Rosa Valenzuela at (520) 206-4603 or [email protected] .  Hours are normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

To request a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, please contact http://www.pima.edu/pima-jobs/contact-us.html .

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer:

Minorities/Females/Disabled/Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Contact Information

Open Educational Resources Subject Guide: Writing

• Getting Started
• Checklists and Worksheets
• Find Open Textbooks
• Academic Skills/Student Success
• Administration of Justice
• American Government
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Anthropology
• Art & Art History
• Critical Care
• Culinary Arts
• Ethnic Studies
• Healthcare Terminology
• Mathematics
• Social Work
• Student Success
• U. S. History
• Western Civilization
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Find Images, Repositories & Ancillary Materials
• Open CourseWare
• Licenses & Attribution
• Read More About OER
• OER Success Stories
• Author an OER
• In the News

Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

The OWL also offers resources on MLA and APA citation formats.  " We offer free resources including Writing and Teaching Writing, Research, Grammar and Mechanics, Style Guides, ESL (English as a Second Language), and Job Search and Professional Writing."

• About Writing: A Guide
• Exploring Perspectives: A Concise Guide to Analysis
• Oregon Writes Open Writing Text
• Writing Commons
• Teaching Autoethnography: Personal Writing in the Classroom
• Intermediate College Writing: Building and Practicing Mindful Writing Skills
• Writing Guide with Handbook

Writing Prompts & Exercises

• The Names Generator Project The Names Generator Project created by Danish web developer, Niels Gamborg, is an easy way to randomly generate a list of names for business, creative writing, projects, etc. with the simple click of button. He has created three name generator catorgies to choose from: Business Names; Nicknames, and Fantasy Names.
• Prompt Literary Magazine The prompt literary magazine is a biannual online magazine that publishes creative work that reflects experimental and traditional work based on writing prompts and exercises.
• Start Writing Fiction This course from The Open University in Britain looks at how characters might be drawn and how setting is established. It works on the different levels of characterization, from flat to round, and how character and place interact. It also works on the effect of genre and how genre can be used. Contents: 1) Character. 2) Setting. 3) Genre.

Open Courses

• Playwrighting I This class introduces the craft of writing for the theater. Through weekly assignments, in class writing exercises, and work on a sustained piece, students explore scene structure, action, events, voice, and dialogue. We examine produced playscripts and discuss student work. This class's emphasis is on process, risk-taking, and finding one's own voice and vision.
• Playwrights' Workshop This course provides continued work in the development of play scripts for the theater. Writers work on sustained pieces in weekly workshop meetings, individual consultation with the instructor, and in collaboration with student actors, directors, and designers. Fully developed scripts are eligible for inclusion in the Playwrights' Workshop Production.
• Transmedia Storytelling: Modern Science Fiction Transmedia narratives exist across multiple storytelling platforms, using the advantages of each to enhance the experience of the audience. No matter which medium nor how many, the heart of any successful transmedia project is a good story. In this class we will spend time on the basics of solid storytelling in speculative fiction before we move on to how to translate those elements into various media. We will then explore how different presentations in different media can complement and enhance our storytelling. While we will read scholarly articles and discuss ideas about transmedia, this is primarily a class in making speculative fiction transmedia projects. We will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various mediums and consider how they complement each other, and how by using several different media we can give the audience a more complete, rewarding, and immersive experience.
• Inside Creative Writing: Robert Olen Butler Watch a Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction writer create a short story in real time, from first inspiration through all the bad sentences and wrong turns to final, polished story, commenting on his process as he works. (1st of 17 episodes)
• Your Book Starts Here -- Storyboarding For Writers Popular book-writing blogger (http://HowtoPlanWriteandDevelopaBook....), award-winning author, and master writing instructor Mary Carroll Moore helps you take your novel, memoir, or nonfiction book from idea to print!
• Kurt Vonnegut On The Shapes Of Stories Short lecture by Kurt Vonnegut on the 'simple shapes of stories.'
• << Previous: Western Civilization
• Next: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion >>
• Last Updated: Apr 22, 2024 11:33 AM
• URL: https://libguides.pima.edu/OERsubjects

• Digital Media Help
• Learn at Home | Homework Center
• Meeting and Study Rooms
• Wifi & Wireless Printing
• Log In / Register
• My Library Dashboard
• My Borrowing
• Checked Out
• Borrowing History
• ILL Requests
• My Collections
• For Later Shelf
• Completed Shelf
• In Progress Shelf
• My Suggestions
• My Settings

• Pima County Public Library Blogs
• PimaLib_HollyS

From Library Fangirl to Writer in Residence

This blog post comes from the Library's 16th Writer in Residence , Estella González. In it, she reflects on her time spent supporting writers in our community.

Therefore, when I found out I would serve as Pima County Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence, this fangirl swooned.

This residency connected me with emerging and experienced writers with similar dreams. The one-on-one consultations repeatedly proved something I already knew: the drive to put pen to paper, or fingers to keys intersects all communities, transcending socio-economic status, gender and culture.

In these half-hour sessions, hopeful authors revealed their varied, sometimes complicated, approaches to fiction, poetry and nonfiction. For instance, one writer expressed her hope to write a novel based in 19th-century England without having read or studied any books related to the era or country. After a discussion about her background, she realized her family history in 1970s Tucson would provide enough drama for several novels. Other authors who identified as neurodivergent detailed the children’s books they wished to write. I was impressed. I knew that children’s writing was a popular genre, but my awareness of its diverse themes grew when I explored the widespread displays at Quincie-Douglas and Flowing Wells libraries.

Some writers signed up for more than one consultation, including Susie who was gearing up to write a memoir for her upcoming sabbatical. She peppered me with questions about my writing journey since she had also lived in East L.A. Then there was Maureen who presented me with the elements of a potential short story at our first session. After recommending Writing What You Know:  How to Turn Personal Experiences into Publishable Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry by Meg Files, she came back with rewritten pages, adding more details and dialog. We also discussed ways to help her properly format her pages.

“I’m going to sign up for more sessions with the next Writer in Residence,” she said on the last day of my residency. My fangirl cheered. It was gratifying to know Maureen would continue. If anything, successful writers must be persistent.

As part of my residency, I presented several programs including one titled “Writing in Community.” This particular presentation was designed to help writers jump-start their projects through writing sprints, a technique borrowed from National Novel Writing Month. More importantly, the program encouraged participants to find motivation and support through fellow aspiring writers. At the end of this program, that’s just what happened.

“Hey, why don’t we form our own writing group,” one participant said. Everyone nodded and shared emails. Now this group is set to meet this month to write. Woohoo! This time, the fangirl turned cartwheels.

A few writers asked about finding literary agents and publishers before actually producing any work. There’s no one sure-fire way to become a published-agented author except to write. Fortunately, there are many tactics to access that novel, collection or memoir bursting from inside a willing author. To that end, I recommended various strategies and resources:

Read books about writing

Books about creative writing help with motivation and accessibility. My favorites include   A Writer’s Book of Days:  A Spirited Companion & Lively Muse by Judy Reeves; Writing What You Know:  How to Turn Personal Experiences into Publishable Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry by Meg Files; The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. All books are available for checkout at Pima County Public Library or for purchase at your local independent bookstore . My local favorites include Antigone Books and Barrio Books.

Join a writing class

Pima County Public Library offers free creative writing workshops , while writing centers like the University of Arizona Poetry Center charge a nominal free, but also provide scholarships. Check their events/calendar page for details. Pima Community College offers low-cost credit-optional courses in creative writing. Please check their catalog .

Go to a writing conference/book festival

When I first started, writing conferences provided connections to other writers and travel opportunities (I’m a Sagittarian). You also get to talk shop with other writers, famous ones, too. Some of the biggest include   The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP); Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCWBI); and Kweli Journal’s  Color of Children’s Literature Conference (summer) and International Literary Festival (fall). Both take place in New York City.

Create a writing group

Find them through Poets and Writers Magazine online, social media or connect with participants at a conference, class.

Go to author readings

Some Pima County Public Library’s offer author talks or you can make a request at your local library. Also, Tucson is fortunate to host the Tucson Festival of Books every March on the University of Arizona’s campus, one of the five largest in the country. Major and local authors like Luis Alberto Urrea, Natalie Diaz and the late bell hooks have read at this weekend event.

Access writer resources

Set up free accounts at Poets and Writers Magazine , Writer’s Digest and Submittable to access literary agents, literary journals and small presses. Participate in National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) in November and/or sign up for free resources and motivation from other writers in and outside of the U.S.

Good luck writers! Keep writing, reading, submitting and, most importantly, accessing your public library. Someday soon your library fangirl-turned-author will thank you.

More by PimaLib_HollyS

Stomp, giggle, stomp

• Birth to Eight

We regularly "gloat" about the program

Color me happy, discover new posts, the library isn't a quiet place, three books on a theme: twisted fairy tales.

• Action & Adventure

An exclusive literary circle of close friends

Powered by BiblioCommons.

BiblioWeb: webapp03 Version 4.18.0 Last updated 2024/03/26 09:53

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.