Dana Wildsmith
About
Dana has been a Folk School instructor since 2004. Her most recent collection of poems is One Light, Texas Review Press. Her environmental memoir, "Back to Abnormal: Surviving with an Old Farm in the New South," was finalist for Georgia Author of the Year. She is also the author of five additional collections of poetry, including "Christmas in Bethlehem." Her newest collection of poems, "One Light," is a memoir in poetry. Dana has served as artist-in-residence for Grand Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park; as writer-in-residence for the Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska; and she is a fellow of the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. She teaches English Literacy through Lanier Technical College.
"What's in Your 2020 Writing Folder?" is a class for all genres, all levels. We've lived through a year that brings to mind the ancient curse: May you live in interesting times. As writers, we need to put our personal experiences into a useful form, this year more than ever. Bring your ideas, your half-finished poems, your story starts, your memoir notes. We will work together and individually to make use of the most interesting material you may ever possess. Pick out no more than ten pages to submit to ahead of time, but we need not limit our online time to those pages. You can share these with the class for their thoughts, save them for me for our individual session, or both. We will also generate new material during our sessions. Come ready to think outside your usual writing box. After a year of nothing but adjustments, this should be easy and a lot more fun than figuring out how to cook yet another meal from what;s in your pantry.
I've taught writing through John C Campbell Folk School for around fifteen years. I have also taught writing workshops through the U.S., often in affiliation with universities. I have worked as Artist-in-Residence for Grand Canyon National Park and Everglades National Park, and the Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska. My environmental memoir, Back to Abnormal, was Finalist for Georgia Author of the Year.
Group Class Now Enrolling
In addition to the one-on-one lessons that can be booked from this page, Dana Wildsmith is offering a group class titled What's in your 2020 writing folder?. This class starts February 1, and is presented in collaboration with the John C. Campbell Folk School. Learn more and sign up here.
Professional Affiliations:
• Appalachian Studies Association member and presenter
• Board Member: APPALSHOP
• Hedgebrook Writers Colony Residents Association
• Oconee County Art Foundation member and teaching artist
• Fellow—Hambidge Center for Arts and Science
Awards:
• April, 2016, October 2017: Artist-in-Residence, Everglades National Park
• 2011 Georgia Author of the Year finalist for Essay
• 2006 SIBA nominee
• 1989 & 1991: Atlantic Center for the Arts Fellow
• 1988: Hedgebrook Resident
• 1999: Devils Tower Nat'l Monument Resident Artist
• 2000: Island Institute Resident Artist, Sitka, Alaska
• 2010: Grand Canyon National Park Artist in Residence
• 2012, 2014: Hambidge Fellow
Publications:
• Alchemy, 1994 (Sow's Ear Press)
• Choices, 1997 (Iris Press)
• Our Bodies Remember, 1999 (Sow's Ear Press)
• One Good Hand, 2005 (Iris Press)
• Back to Abnormal, 2010 (Motes Books)
• Christmas in Bethlehem, 2013 (Future Cycle Press)
• Jumping,2016 (Ink Brush Press)
As the author of six books of poetry, an environmental memoir and a novel, I feel comfortable working with students focusing on any writing genre. My approach for Folk School classes is a combination of instruction, guided practice and group interaction. I also love working with students one-on-one to dive deeply into their manuscripts. My approach will not change significantly for online classes. We will meet as a group online for two hours each day, and I will meet individually with each student for at least one hour-long critiquing and editing session during the week.