“Write The Night Away” is a creative writing forum sponsored by the St. John Fisher College English Department. Its purpose is to encourage participants to write in the moment by providing stimulating prompt triggers. The goal is to promote written, verbal, and artistic self expression by listening to the breath and variety of others’ work in the spirit of generosity and applause. All members of the Fisher community, students, faculty and staff, who are interested in writing and developing their own creativity and that of others, are welcome.

Write The Night Away workshops are held from 7-9 p. m. in the Golisano Gateway on the third Friday of every month, including the summer. They are free and open to the public. Professor Dee Hogan of the English Department serves as facilitator.

2008

Colette Phillips presented her first feature read at the January WTNA. You may remember her as the outstanding actress (playwright and set designer) who was searching for Hugh in the "I See You Cafe" on stage in October when we partnered with RochesterInk during that wonderful poetry festival where we highlighted our interpretation of E. E. Cummings "Voice and Silence."

Our "Away Nights" so far will be: "Eat The Night Away 2" (Haffey-Ward Dining Hall); "Improv The Night Away" (Basil Hall Auditorium ); "Carol The Night Away 3" (Del Monte Lodge in Pittsford). Dates will be determined soon. Current/ Regular participants are eligible to be feature readers and to participate in our "Away Nights."

While we will have three different prompts at WTNA on Friday, here is one that you may wish to do (not mandatory) at home and bring to "Write The Night Away" to read to us. Let it inspire you and have some some fun with it.

"David lived in constant fear that his mother would confiscate his slingshot."

"Write The Night Away" workshops run in 2008 from January through November. Dates (and themes for the first 6 months) are listed below. If you have a good idea for a theme, let me know.

Feb. 15 "Fences" feature reader: Sylvia Barker

Mar. 14"Bowled Over" (date changed due to Easter) feature reader: Rufino Pabico

April 18 "Familiar Strangers" feature reader: Jeff Kerr

May 16 "All For One, One For All" feature reader: Beth Wallace

June 20 "A Rose By Any Other Name..." feature reader: Claire Goverts

“Write The Night Away” was founded in March of 2004. We have had 40 theme-based, two hour workshops and have seen 800 different people during that time. Our current base list of attendees is 300, with between 30-45 people attending each time. Within the last year, we have held “Away Nights,” events where WTNA members gather to extend their self-expression, sense of community and support for each other in an informal setting. Our next “Away Night” will be “American Idol The Night Away," a talent show where WTNA participants will perform. It will be held at the Del Monte Lodge in Pittsford on October 5.

For more information, contact Dee Hogan.