Workshop Notes

Fairy Tale Writing Workshop Prompts

Once Upon a Christmas Workshop Notes

Advanced Writing Workshop Notes

Memoir Writing Notes

Poetry Writing Workshop

Historical Fiction Writing Workshop

Poetry Writing WS 2011

The Writing Circle

Writing workshops at the Torrington Library are open to all skill levels. We encourage anyone with a love of words and writing to attend and try his or her hand at being creative. 

If you have previously attended a workshop, submitted work to the poetry contest, or are on our mailing list, you are automatically part of the Writing Circle.  The goal of the Circle is to introduce writers in the area to one another and create collaborative, learning environment. 

Workshops are the primary meeting place for the members of the Writing Circle. 

Workshops are designed to encourage writers to work on and hone their craft. It is a  nurturing environment where ideas and thoughts are shared and hopefully growth is experienced. 

A variety of workshops are offered at the Library free of charge. 

Once again the Library will hold the Annual Poetry Writing Contest .

We look forward to seeing you at the Library and becoming a part of our Writers Circle.

 Join the Writing Circle

Joining is easy--attend a workshop, submit work to our annual contests, or join our mailing list. It's that simple!

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Writers Circle, please email Jessica.

2nd Annual Summer Author Expo

during Main Street Marketplace!

Are you an author who would like the opportunity to showcase your work to thousands of people? Click here to find out more about our Summer Author Expo!

2013 Lecture Series

Take The Stage:

Famous playwrights

and their works

Henrik Ibsen

Thursday, May 2nd from 6:00-7:30

Registration begins April 15th

Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen is perhaps one of the most recognizable creators of the 19th Century. Writing such works as Ghosts, A Doll’s House, and Hedda Gablar, we will trace the life and writings of this masterful man.

Lillian Hellman

Thursday, July 11th from 6:00-7:30

Registration begins June 14th

Playwright and screenwriter Lillian Hellman carved her path in a world full of men to become a leading figure in modern day theatre. She made her name in both literature and politics in a time where women were not highly involved in either. Join us as we look at the life and works of the woman who made famous The Children’s Hour and more.

Nora Ephron

Thursday, September 5th from 6:00-7:30

Registration begins August 15th

Perhaps one of the most recognizable female creators of our time, Nora Ephron has taken her place in literary history. Whether she was writing and directing a film, writing a play for the theatre, or tickling us with her abundant humor, Ephron will be remembered!

Eugene O’Neil

Thursday, November 7th from 6:00-7:30

Registration begins October 15th

American Playwright and Nobel laureate in literature, O’Neill brought a darker side to the theatre; a more introspective view of the human soul. Creating such works as A Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Desire Under the Elms, Strange Interlude and more, O’Neill is highly recognizable and as interesting as the characters he created.

2013 Writing Workshop

Depths of Imagination: Writing Workshop

Thursday, April 4th from 6:00-7:45

Registration begins March 15th

What is imagination? How is it used? You will be challenged to explore these questions and find out just what makes you tick (or write) during this fun and entertaining workshop. You’ll be asked to create new, odd, and sometimes silly works, all with the hope of opening up your mind.

Copy Cat: Mimic Your Favorite Author

Thursday, June 6th from 6:00-7:45

Registration begins May 15th

During this one-of-a-kind workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to write in the style of your favorite authors. Be sure to bring a few examples of his or her work and by the end of the night you’ll have a piece that is sure to mimic the original. You’ll learn the style of your favorite writer, the technique the author uses to achieve this style!

Summer in the City: Writing Workshop

Thursday, August 1st from 6:00-7:45

Registration begins July 14th

Enjoy the vibrancy of downtown Torrington during this off-site writing workshop. We’ll explore the towns annual Main Street Marketplace, all the while stopping at key moments to write down observations and vignettes to use as inspiration for the future.

Writers Boo(t) Camp

Thurs., October 3rd from 6:00-7:45

Registration begins September 15th

Be prepared to be scared out of your wits! During this unique night, you will be asked to write a serious of scary, spooky, or down-right odd stories! Just in time for Halloween, this workshop will get your blood pumping and afraid of things that go bump in the night!

Easy as Pie: Writing Workshop

Thursday, December 5th from 6:00-7:45

Registration begins November 15th

With Christmas around the corner, this workshop will focus on writing about food. That’s right—so many of us have found or non-so-fond memories of creating a holiday meal, but we never think to write about it. During this workshop, we’ll use food as inspiration to create funny, touching, and memorable holiday stories.

Poems about Libraries

My First Memory (of Librarians) by Nikki Giovani

This is my first memory:

A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky

       wood floor

A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center

Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply

       too short

              For me to sit in and read

So my first book was always big

In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided

To the left side the card catalogue

On the right newspapers draped over what looked like

       a quilt rack

Magazines face out from the wall

The welcoming smile of my librarian

The anticipation in my heart

All those books—another world—just waiting

At my fingertips.

In the library by Charles Simic

For Octavio

There's a book called

"A Dictionary of Angels."

No one has opened it in fifty years,

I know, because when I did,

The covers creaked, the pages

Crumbled. There I discovered

The angels were once as plentiful

As species of flies.

The sky at dusk

Used to be thick with them.

You had to wave both arms

Just to keep them away.

Now the sun is shining

Through the tall windows.

The library is a quiet place.

Angels and gods huddled

In dark unopened books.

The great secret lies

On some shelf Miss Jones

Passes every day on her rounds.

She's very tall, so she keeps

Her head tipped as if listening.

The books are whispering.

I hear nothing, but she does.

The Libraries Didn't Burn by Elaine Equi

despite books kindled in electronic flames.

The locket of bookish love

still opens and shuts.

But its words have migrated

to a luminous elsewhere.

Neither completely oral nor written —

a somewhere in between.

Then will oak, willow,

birch, and olive poets return

to their digital tribes —

trees wander back to the forest?

Writing Circle Forum

By popular demand, the Writers Circle has implemented a writing forum. A 24-hour writing guide to connect you with other writers and workshop participants.

Topics include:

A Coffee Shop Chat

Character Development

Fiction, Memoir, Poetry and Flash Fiction Forums

Writing Exercises and

An Idea Exchange

Click here to register for the forum and begin your writing exploration! Good luck and  enjoy!

Literary Links

Bright Star: Check out this film about poet John Keats and his love affair with Fanny Brawne.

Contrariwise: A site for people to share their literary tattoos! So much fun and very creative, but don't get any ideas unless you 18 and older!

Favorite Poem Project: For poetry lovers; organized by Robert Pinsky

Free Verse Project : a visual depiction of poetry that anyone can create.

Litchfield County Writer's Project at UCONN: Writers unite and enjoy the UCONN Writer's Project.

Merlyn's Pen: Fiction, poetry and essays by American Teens

The Norton Anthology of English Literature: A great guide to famous works and the time in which they were created. 

Paradise Lost Live Performance: Performed by John Bassinger.

Poets.org: From the Academy of American Poets, your guide to all things poetry.

Poetry Foundation: Guide to poets and poetry.  Great online resource page with links to journals, blogs, contests, works and everything you can think of!

Sunken Garden Poetry: Since 1992, audiences have enjoyed verse and music among the fragrant blooms of Hill-Stead’s Sunken Garden. 

Welcome to the OWL at Purdue: Writing and Style Guides

Writer's Almanac: Receive a Poem-A-Day and hear the poem being read aloud.

WritersMarket: Your guide to the publishing world