The best kept secret in Fairfield County is at Fairfield University | Press Releases

Louise Ladd has often been told that she runs "the best kept secret in Fairfield County." They are referring to the workshop she teaches for University College at Fairfield University. For the first time in several years, there are openings in her very popular class for advanced writers, "The Writer's Workshop."

Those who gain the most advantage from it are writers who are ready to hear and apply feedback to the material they have submitted to the class. Fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's books are welcome. Ladd has extensive experience in all forms of writing. She has published eighteen books for grade school children and young adults, articles in national magazines and, along with writer and actor Doug Taylor, she managed to rescue and edit a beautiful posthumous memoir by actress Sandy Dennis. After teaching this workshop for adults at Fairfield University for eighteen years, there is hardly a type of writing she hasn't read and edited.

Unlike most workshops where members read their work out loud in class, members of Ladd's class take home a copy of each piece submitted by colleagues in the class and read the works at their leisure, finally writing a brief comment on each one during the two weeks between meetings. In addition, they may prepare up to ten pages of their own material to submit. During each session, class members read aloud, one by one, their short critiques of an individual work; no discussion is permitted during that phase. When all have expressed opinions, the author may then ask questions of his or her colleagues and a discussion period follows. With this format, the author receives up to ten independent opinions of his or her work and the written feedback that has been submitted provides the author with a tangible reference when rewriting. The author's work is also line-edited and critiqued by Ladd.

The class meets every other Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Course dates for spring 2009 are: February 11, February 25, March 11, March 25, April 8, April 22 and May 6. The cost is $395. To register or for more information, please contact Sandy Richardson, University College, at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2911 or by e-mail, arichardson@mail.fairfield.edu.