Announcement: Taos Institute of Studies and Taos Historic Museums

The Taos Institute of Studies, sponsored by the Taos Historic Museums, announces the first in a series of projected classes and workshops.

As Vladimir Nabokov said, “A good reader, a major reader, and active and creative reader is a re-reader.” Similarly, writing as practice requires “rewriting,” prior to posting, submission, mailing, or rereading.

Instructor Bill Whaley is offering a Writer’s Workshop: Essayism: the Art and Craft of revising how we read, write, and think. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, lists, letters, essays, short stories, novels, poetry, journals or technical prose, everyone needs a reader and listener with an acute ear (including yourself).

For the last twenty years instructor Bill Whaley has taught a writer’s “revision” course, focused on the practice, at universities and in private classes for practitioners, who wish to clarify the expression of purpose in prose. Whether you approach writing as a craft or an art, as drudgery or spiritual and therapeutic exercise, reading writing and thinking all benefit from the clarification of “rewriting.”

Whaley (A typical Taos ABD) received his M.A. from University of Nevada, Reno, published Horse Fly, a monthly journal of culture and politics (1999-2009), Gringo Lessons: Twenty Years of Terror in Taos, and edited Paul O’Connors Taos Portraits.

In this ten-week class practitioners benefit from the leisure to learn about fluid sentences, pesky paragraphs, and the structure of twisted texts, which improve by being read aloud in a safe setting. Classes in the past have included PhDs, published authors, university graduates, undergraduates, and interested parties, all of whom prosper from reading aloud and the ensuing response.

The instructor will review Joseph Williams’ practical Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (11th) Edition (or any edition you can find at a nominal price on Amazon). Selections from modern and classical essayists will be provided and the instructor encourages the submission of  favorite literary selections for discussion.

Instructor: Bill Whaley: 10 Week Course
Dates: Thursdays, March 1-May 3/2018
(10 Consecutive Weeks)
Time: 5:30 to 7:30
Place: Blumenschein Museum, 222 Ledoux St.
Cost: $125.00 (Scholarships available)

Contact: bwhaley@newmex.com or (575) 776-4115

The class needs a minimum of 3 students but will be limited to the first 15 who sign up. Members of Taos Historic Museums receive 10% off and 10% of the tuition fees will be donated to Taos Historic Museums.

The Taos Instituted of Studies (TIS) is a Project Sponsored by:

If you wish to teach and/or take Classes and Workshops for the TIS Summer session, please contact Bill Whaley: email bwhaley@newmex.com or phone (575) 776-4115. Fees for instructors will be based strictly on the income generated by tuition.

Workshops can be scheduled at the Blumenschein, Hacienda Martinez, your home, studio, or workplace in coordination with Luisa Mylet Valerio and Margo Beutler Gins of the Taos Historic Museums.