MELANIE’S “THE SLIPPERY YEAR” GARNERS STELLAR NEW YORK TIMES AND NEW YORKER BOOK BENCH REVIEWS – DON’T MISS THE BOOK LAUNCH ON AUGUST 12-13
We're in for a new spate of Grotto books this late summer and fall, and the accolades are already coming in. Hot off the press is Melanie’s profile in the July 30th New York Times (see link below). And Andrea Walker reviewed Melanie's book in the online New Yorker Book Bench, stating, “By the end of the book I felt like I had just spent several hours knocking back drinks with an especially funny friend. Which is some of my highest praise.” (As Grottoite Caroline Paul remarked, “I like the way the reviewer starts her review all crotchety and at the end wants to have a drink with Melanie. Wait in line, girl. We all want a drink with Melanie.”)
Recently in Seminars & Classes
The new lineup of Grotto writing classes begins Jan 12, 2009.
For class descriptions and registration info, go to
STARTING LATE SEPTEMBER, GROTTO CO-FOUNDER ETHAN WATTERS WILL TEACH:
GET PUBLISHED: A NON-FICTION INTENSIVE
Eight Sessions / Thursday Nights 6:30 to 9:30 /September 25th through November 6th
Cost: $595.00 Class size limited to 12 Students
ethanw1@mindspring.com
415-348-1849
Course description:
This class will put beginning and intermediate writers on a path to getting published. We will focus on developing magazine pieces and book projects. An emphasis will be placed on getting students to begin pitching ideas to magazine editors and agents. Students will learn how to:
-Find ideas for non-fiction writing
-Write effective query letters for magazine
-How to craft book proposals and magazine features
-Understand the magazine market place
-Develop relationships with editors and agents
-Critiquing and re-writing first drafts
Students will be expected to develop two magazine projects during the class or one book proposal. These will be workshopped during class. There will be a reader and short weekly writing assignments both in and out of class. No writing sample required. Class size limited to 14 people.
Instructor bio:
Ethan Watters has been a freelance writer for 20 years. He has taught non-fiction writing at Berkeley, Stanford and is currently an adjunct professor in the masters writing program at California College of the Arts. He's written for The New York Times Magazine, Men's Journal, Outside, Esquire, Discover, Spin, Mother Jones, GQ, Details, HG, and San Francisco Magazine, among other national and regional publications. He has also created pieces for Public Radio International's This American Life. He has written three books: Making Monsters, Therapy's Delusions and Urban Tribes. Ira Glass has purchased the movie rights to Urban Tribes and has written two scripts based on the book. In 1994 he co-founded the San Francisco Writers' Grotto. He is currently at work on a book about America's influence on mental illness around the world.
