Tag Archives: On Writing

Winter Writing Classes at Upstate Dispatch in Margaretville

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© J.N. Urbanski

Creative Writing for All Levels: Wednesdays 4pm-7pm beginning Feb 25th, 2026

Although this class welcomes beginners, it will also be a good refresher for those who have not written in years. Hone your existing craft, or start from the beginning. For distracted writers and those suffering cabin fever, this will be a chance to focus on yourself for three hours a week, for six weeks.

The sessions will be guided with prompts like tarot cards, art, flash cards and a small library of contemporary memoir.

Participants will be expected to write in class, asked to read their work aloud and receive constructive critique in a safe, supportive and respectful forum.

Six classes over six weeks beginning Wednesday February 25th, 2026. 4-7pm in person at 818 Main Street, Margaretville, NY. Places are limited to ten participants. $120 per person.

An additional remote-only class will also be available beginning in March.

Sign up for Future Memoirists: Journaling Classes – All Levels

I’m gauging interest for a spring journaling class to begin in February. This class is for budding memoirists who would like to turn their diary into a future memoir. The class also welcomes beginners and writers who have not written a diary in years. Hone your existing craft, or simply learn more about yourself by writing. For distracted writers and those suffering cabin fever, this will be a chance to focus on yourself for three hours a week, for six weeks.

The sessions will be guided with prompts like tarot cards, art, flash cards and a small library of contemporary memoir.

Participants will be expected to write in class and read their work aloud and receive constructive criticism a safe, supportive and respectful forum. Weekly homework will also be set and critiqued in following classes.

Private sessions are also available. Please email info@upstatedispatch.com.

Sign up for the Analog Project: The Art of Letter Writing – All Levels

I’m gauging interest for the Upstate Dispatch Analog Project. Please comment below or email: info@upstatedispatch.com to register interest and your best times/dates to participate. The Letter Writing Project invites members of the community to come together in an easy environment to write actual letters to friends or family all over the world. Bring your own stationery, pens, notes, books and any other writing materials.

The sessions will be guided. Participants will not be required to read aloud, but they can if they would like to. Tea, coffee and stamps will be provided so those letters can go out immediately. $10 per person per session.

Upstate Dispatch also offers private writing classes in journaling, creative writing and letter writing. Contact info@upstatedispatch.com for details.

About Jenny Neal

Jenny Neal has three decades of experience as a published writer-for-hire and journalist on two continents, and locally here in the Catskills for Watershed Post, Green Door, Hudson Valley Edible and here on Upstate Dispatch. Subscribe to her Substack here.

Shaking Off The Winter Blues

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© J.N. Urbanski

After informal discussions amongst neighbors, I’ve gleaned that the cabin fever or winter blues hit a high this past winter. During a chance encounter with an acquaintance, I was asked: “how did you survive winter?”, to which I replied, “barely”. Although, most agreed that the weather wasn’t as bad as the year before. To be honest though, cabin fever aside, happiness seems to be quite rare these days. Last year, I was surprised when at a social group in NYC, as 20-plus ladies sat around in a circle, I asked how many of them were on anti-depressants and they all raised their hands. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a journalist or if people are being more honest lately, but in my experience, we’re opening up about anxiety. There’s a lot of be anxious about; the proposed revival of the coal industry is one of them. (Coal, really? Are we in Victorian England?) In my experience, the winter blues and bouts of cabin fever have been held at arm’s length by writing, reading, diet and lots of booze exercise (and the latest research, below, seems to indicate that what you eat affects your mental health). Even if you’re not a writer, a ToDO list or a journal can help enormously. As a writer, one has to get used to solitude, but spring is on the way, the buds are on the trees and after last night’s rain there might be mushrooms. There are definitely ramps in the valleys.

Here are some links on the latest news on health and exercise from some respected media outlets and some tips on writing:

On the benefits of solitude from The Atlantic and how to be alone from Brain Pickings.

More research into how gut bacteria can affect our minds as well as our bodies. A study suggests that eating probiotics like yoghurt relieves anxiety. The book Gulp by Mary Roach and foods to restore our gut bacteria from The Scientific American.

Interval training benefits the aging body. It’s never too late to start exercising. Links to some remarkable interval training DVDs from Jillian Michaels.

How perfectionism kills creativity from Anne Lamott.

Zadie Smith’s 10 Rules of Writing. “Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never ­being satisfied.”

And for fun:

How one writer tried to stop complaining.

How one writer said yes to everything, including crossfit, and ended up in the hospital, from Vice.