Nick Garnett leads First Draft writers at The Butcher Shop. (Photo, Miami Center for Writing and Literature)
By the time I finished writing my first prompt presented by First Draft’s host, Nicholas Garnett, I was more confident by the end of the night I would have at least a rough sketch for a short story.
Even better, the theme of the night was murder & mayhem, most appropriately taking place at The Butcher Shop, a restaurant and beer garden in Wynwood.
Spearheaded by The Center for Writing and Literature at Miami Dade College, First Draft was begun last summer by The Center’s program coordinator Nicole Swift as a way to reach out to Miami’s writing community. Swift said, “The idea of First Draft is community. And we thought about how can we make writing fun?”
And why wouldn’t First Draft be fun? Imagine your favorite creative writing class taking place at a restaurant that serves great sangria.
In between laughing because you’re having a great time, you discuss Alfred Hitchcock and the best techniques for creating suspense with local authors like Nicholas Garnett.
Sure, prompts and exercises are given throughout the workshop. But the whole point of First Draft is to gain better writing skills while being entertained.
“We wanted to create an event that takes the anxiety away from writing workshops,” said Swift.
Every month First Draft has a larger attendance with a new themed workshop, with many regulars returning. To celebrate National Poetry Month, First Draft’s workshop on April 9th was dedicated to poetry.
In early May, First Draft’s will have two workshops, each at the new Books & Books Bookstore and Cafe at Arsht Center. On May 5th, 7-9 PM, there will be First Draft ¡en español! with a theme of Obsesiones. May 7th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM novelist Anjanette Delgado will theme is “changes.” Check out The Center’s website for more information and to RSVP.
—Jeffrey Fernandez
Even better, the theme of the night was murder & mayhem, most appropriately taking place at The Butcher Shop, a restaurant and beer garden in Wynwood.
Spearheaded by The Center for Writing and Literature at Miami Dade College, First Draft was begun last summer by The Center’s program coordinator Nicole Swift as a way to reach out to Miami’s writing community. Swift said, “The idea of First Draft is community. And we thought about how can we make writing fun?”
And why wouldn’t First Draft be fun? Imagine your favorite creative writing class taking place at a restaurant that serves great sangria.
In between laughing because you’re having a great time, you discuss Alfred Hitchcock and the best techniques for creating suspense with local authors like Nicholas Garnett.
Sure, prompts and exercises are given throughout the workshop. But the whole point of First Draft is to gain better writing skills while being entertained.
“We wanted to create an event that takes the anxiety away from writing workshops,” said Swift.
Every month First Draft has a larger attendance with a new themed workshop, with many regulars returning. To celebrate National Poetry Month, First Draft’s workshop on April 9th was dedicated to poetry.
In early May, First Draft’s will have two workshops, each at the new Books & Books Bookstore and Cafe at Arsht Center. On May 5th, 7-9 PM, there will be First Draft ¡en español! with a theme of Obsesiones. May 7th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM novelist Anjanette Delgado will theme is “changes.” Check out The Center’s website for more information and to RSVP.
—Jeffrey Fernandez
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