Today we’d like to introduce you to Judith Dancoff.
Judith, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started the workshop because I felt I had something important to share about writing — both about the process of becoming a writer as well as how to give feedback to others.
Peter Elbow, who is an important inspiration for me, says that writers are often in the dark about their own work. They put words on the page, but they’re unsure of their effect on others. So that’s one of the big goals of the workshop – to remedy this as well as suggest opportunities for revision, but without being prescriptive.
The ultimate goal is to sensitize the writer sufficiently so she can apply what she knows to her own work. To that end, we also simply read and talk a lot about writing. One never stops learning about writing.
Where am I today? The workshop continues, with students repeating and my own understanding of writing and teaching always growing. It’s one of the most important things I do.
Has it been a smooth road?
The problem, when there is one, is in advertising. It’s not my favorite thing to do. One of the great advantages of being my own boss is that the workshop can take a hiatus, but then I have to start it up again.
Luckily, though, past students contact me and request it, so I am motivated and then we have a wonderful time.
Other than that, no, there haven’t really been any big struggles. I’m also lucky to hold the workshop in such a lovely physical environment. The Japanese have a practice called Tree Bathing, and you can see from my photos that here on my property, we can easily engage in it. When I hold a day class we sit under my hundred-year-old pepper tree, barely ten minutes from downtown LA, surrounded by nature, and work on our writing!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mt. Washington Writers’ Workshop story. Tell us more about the business.
Perhaps different from some writing classes is that I work to give students descriptive (as opposed to prescriptive) feedback, and to train them to give that kind of feedback to others, so that eventually they can apply that kind of sensitized, nonjudgmental eye on their own work. I also want to open their minds to different approaches and to the benefits of reading.
Right now, I’m very excited about a series of craft books published by Greywolf Press and will be using excerpts in my upcoming workshop.
As Brenda Uleland says, “Everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say.” I believe that to my bones. She was a contemporary of Eugene O’Neill’s who taught writing until she was very old, and I hope to do the same!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Writing workshops aren’t really an industry, but so much is happening in publishing right now, both thrilling and a little scary too.
To the extent that we have time, we talk about that as well.
One day soon, I hope to have a graphic novelist in my class. It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m open to it!
Pricing:
- $250 for my 10-week workshop, beginning Feb 12
- $75 for the one-day writing marathon when I hold them
Contact Info:
- Address: HIghland Park/Mt. Washington/LA 90065 – address given with reservation. I am close to the 110, 5 and 2 freeways, and the Southwest Museum Station of the Goldline.
- Website: judithdancoff.com
- Phone: 323-225-5633 (voice only – no text)
- Email: [email protected]
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