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Check
It Out
Here's some of the information we supply our
students. Read through it to get a better understanding of how our workshops
function.
Course Catalog
Workshop FAQs
Terms of Service
Student Testimonials
Learn More...
You'll learn more about our facilitator program by
reading our Facilitator FAQS.
If you have questions not
answered in the FAQs, please contact
Jennifer Brown Banks.
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Becoming a Workshop Facilitator
Coffeehouse for Writers Online Workshops evolved from some basic needs most
novice writers have--the need to educate themselves in the craft, and the
need to connect with other writers. In September 1999, Coffeehouse began
offering writing workshops via the Web to aspiring writers worldwide.
One of the goals of our workshops is to link aspiring
writers with successful authors and educators--people with proven writing
abilities who want to share their knowledge and help new writers discover
their potential. It takes a dedicated, enthusiastic professional to lead one
of our workshops. We'd like to hear from you if you have the following
qualities:
- Significant writing experience in the area
you hope to teach. At a minimum, you should have successfully published
in your field or genre. (For instance, don't approach us with an idea
for a novel writing workshop if you've never published a novel.) Online
credits are okay. Obscure credits, without evidence of publication in
more widely-read venues, are not.
- Familiarity with the Internet and email,
including the ability to easily use group mailing lists, bulletin
boards, etc. Technical savvy is important. You should thoroughly
understand how to use your computer for things like creating files and
folders, and navigating the Internet. You will also need a reliable
Internet connection.
- Excellent communication skills. Sure, you
can write--but can you communicate effectively on a one-on-one basis?
Our facilitators must reach students in a way that is both professional
and accessible; motivational and encouraging. You must be able to relate
to them as a mentor.
- Strong self-editing skills. You'll need to
make certain ALL communication with students is free from spelling and
grammar errors, and that your lessons are well-researched and
professional.
- Educational background or teaching experience.
We prefer that our facilitators have some formal education relative to
writing or teaching.
Send Us Your Proposal
Think you've got what it takes to facilitate a
Coffeehouse workshop? We welcome your proposal. But before you start putting
together a workshop syllabus, please take a couple of steps to ensure you
won't be wasting your time:
- Take a good look at our
course catalog to see what we currently offer. Read some existing
course syllabi to get a feel for our tone and style. Our goal is to
approach the learning process in a friendly yet professional way, but
never dry and academic. Our workshops are fun!
- Query us with your idea to make certain we don't
have a similar course in development at this time. Address your query to
Jennifer Brown Banks, administrator.
- If your query is approved,
click here to learn how to prepare and
submit your proposal.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact
Jennifer Brown Banks.
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Praise for Our Program
"I was very pleased with how
[the workshop] turned out. At first I was unsure how useful an online
workshop would be but I found I learned just as much as in a classroom and
actually conversed with the other students more than in another
classroom--we were able to share helpful information with each other."
"For years I'd convinced myself
I couldn't write fiction, that I couldn't make things up out of whole cloth
or weave a believable, entertaining tale out of thin air. But I not only
learned how to do it in this workshop, I developed the confidence to do it
in public, nearly every day, virtually on command, in the
CHPercolator community!"
"This was the best
instruction I've received in a workshop of this nature, and that would
include all of the in-person ones I've attended over the years. [The]
instructors were sensational."
"I would give this
workshop a rating of excellent. This was my first online workshop, and I did
not know what to expect. But I was very pleasantly surprised. The course
material was abundant. The direction by the instructor was clear and
concise. The reading assignments coordinated well with the exercises. The
lessons were thought-provoking, and the involvement of the other
participants was first rate. I certainly got my money's worth and a whole
lot more."
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