Ranked #1
Best College Prep Private High School in Ohio
Best All-Girls High School in Ohio
For students across
Northeast Ohio,
one of the best girls’ schools
in the country is
within reach.
Learn more at HB.edu/BestGirlsSchool
Attend any of our monthly virtual admission events
for infants through grade 12
Transportation and Tuition Assistance Available
Co-ed Infant & Toddler Center and Early Childhood • Girls K-12
WWW.SHAKER.LIFE | WINTER 2021 19
The first Writers’ Workshop was a
five-week, in-person series, which then
became an ongoing monthly event;
however, when COVID closed the
Library, the workshops became virtual.
Each series can accommodate up to 12
writers. When writers register for the
workshop, Cook sends them “Guidelines
for Story Writing.” Caveats such as, “be
constructive, not critical” and “respect
is essential,” or set a positive tone for
the workshop. Cook believes that good
writers are both readers and storytellers,
and she suggests short story anthologies
as a way to begin.
During the sessions, each participant
can submit a story-based work of up
to 750 words for Cook’s review. Her
enthusiasm and encouragement help
writers learn how to “stay in the lane” to
tell their stories. Her comments not only
highlight the strength of each writer’s
piece, but also suggest areas for growth
and development.
“Charlotte creates a safe space
for writers, new and old, to hone their
skills,” says
Vicki Victoria,
a workshop
participant.
“I appreciate the
opportunity to
share my writing
with others and
to learn from
what others are
writing. Everyone
is encouraged
to express what
they feel are
the strong points of the others’ works.
Suggestions are offered, but criticism is
not. Everyone also has the opportunity
to learn from Charlotte’s experience as a
writer and publisher.”
Kelcey Land, another appreciative
writer, says, “Charlotte has been a great inspiration to re-invigorating my memoir
writing. She made a special effort to get me caught up when technical issues prevented
me from joining the first session. I’m very much looking forward to her help and
expertise. Kudos to the Shaker Library for supporting this free class for the community.”
Cook is a fan of Jane Austen and Dickens as well as Dick Francis and Tony
Hillerman. She also enjoys the haunting novels The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
and Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. When she is not taking her German shepherd, Bella,
on a “good time” walk, she is working on a character-driven suspense novel. SL
The Writers’ Workshop, which is limited to 12 participants, meets from 6:30-8 pm the
second and fourth Thursday of the month beginning January 14 through March 25.
Register online or call 216-991-2030.
“Charlotte
creates a
safe space
for writers,
new and
old, to hone
their skills.”
/BestGirlsSchool
/WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
