Propose a Class

       

The Story Circle Network is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women explore the stories of their lives. We are looking for women teachers/writers who want to share their passion for lifewriting by working with women (SCN members and non-members) in classes carried out on the Internet and via email.

If you are a skilled writer with experience in teaching memoir, journaling, life-based fiction, and other lifewriting forms and are interested in joining our faculty, we'd like to hear from you.

Proposals for Spring 2009

We are now accepting proposals for these classes:

  • Spring, 2009 (April 13-June 8, 2009) (deadline February 1, 2009)
For an idea of the kind of courses we're interested in, check out our classes. See "What we're looking for" for additional possibilities. If you think you might like to teach in the program but want to check out an idea before you submit a proposal, please .

What we're looking for

We have previously offered four, six, and eight-week courses at basic and advanced levels in editing and proofreading, memoir writing, and memoir-to-fiction. We are now looking for interesting, creative ways to teach and learn the art of personal story, and especially for classes for more advanced writers. We are also looking for classes in fiction and poetry, taught by women who have published in these areas. Here are some possibilities we've thought of. We're sure you can think of others.

  • Teach a class on writing family history. Each student chooses five or six family members, conducts interviews or writes from memory. Or your students write about places in their family's past, or family traditions. You offer guidance, tips, critique, help.
  • Recipe collections are fun! Offer a class that shows students how to gather, edit, assemble, and tell stories about their families' favorite recipes. In a second-level (advanced) course, help them learn how to publish their books.
  • Blogging is one way to publish the stories of our lives. Do you know quite a lot about blogging? Share that knowledge (and inspiration) with people who are just getting started.
  • Do your talents include proofreading and editing texts? Many people would like to brush up their editorial skills. You can help.
  • Do you teach lifewriting as a means of healing and a way to reframe experience? Share your knowledge and experience with students online.
  • Offer an intensive class on self-publishing, guiding students through the creation of an eBook or POD book.
  • Are you a published travel writer? A food writer? Teach a class on travel writing, food writing.
  • Do you write book reviews or how-to articles? These are also good subjects for a course.
  • Have you taught fiction or poetry classes? Design and offer a class on writing short stories or poems.

Instructor Compensation

Student tuition is set by SCN and scaled according to the length of the course, content, instructor expertise and experience, and special requirements. SCN collects and retains 25% of tuition and pays the instructor the remaining 75%, half when the class begins, half on completion. Upon arrangement with SCN, the instructor may charge additional fees for special materials or other requirements; this nonrefundable fee will be collected from the students at the time of registration and paid to the instructor when the class begins. SCN may charge additional administrative fees that are not paid through to the instructor.

Submitting a Proposal

Please fill out the form below and click "Submit Online Writing Class Proposal." We'll read it carefully and ask you for additional information.

Don't forget to make a copy for yourself. You can also print the screen that you will see after you submit your form—it will contain all the information you type on this page. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

Deadlines:

  • Winter term (January 19-March 16, 2009 classes): October 1, 2008 (***deadline has passed***)
  • Spring term (April 13-June 8, 2009 classes): February 1, 2009


Name:
Street Address:
Phone Number:
City:
Email Address:
State/Province: (select "n/a" for non-US, non-Canadian residents)
Country:
Zip Code:

Are you currently a dues-paying member of the Story Circle Network? Yes / No
(People subscribing to our e-letter sometimes believe they are members when they are not. Membership is not required for your proposal to be evaluated, although it does suggest a familiarity with and commitment to SCN's mission.)

Term for which you are proposing a class:

Title of my proposed class:

Synopsis:

Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Will your class involve students' group participation (reading/responding to each other's writing, sharing stories with fellow students, posting photos, etc)? If yes, we will set up a Yahoo Group site for your use. Yes / No

Instruction/communication methods. In the box below, describe the means by which you will deliver your instructional materials, receive students' written work, comment, and communicate. Please specify any materials you will require in addition to your instructional materials (i.e. books, printed matter, audio, or DVDs that the students must purchase).

Course outline, by week or unit. Please provide details of the material you will offer and what will be expected from the students for each course segment—enough so that we can see the structure and substance of your course. We will ask for more details later.

Time commitment required from students (e.g. number of hours per lesson or per week):

Student skill-sets and software/hardware required (beginning, intermediate, advanced writing or computer skills; Word, Internet, email, printer, fax, etc.):

Maximum/minimum number of students (minimum: number below which you won't teach the course):
Max: / Min:

My brief resume, focussing on relevant teaching and writing experience. Please tell us specifically about any online teaching experience you've had. If online teaching is new to you, please tell us that. Do NOT include your corporate/professional experience unless it is relevant to the course you are proposing. (If you prefer to email this, please and note that below.) Note: you MUST put something into this text box, even if only the phrase "emailing resume."

Questions about your proposal? .

We will review your proposal and get back to you as soon as possible.