The Writers' Workshop is planning the following writing classes in Charlotte at the Jewish Community Center in Shalom Park. Registration is in advance, either online (www.twwoa.org), or by mail: The Writers' Workshop, 387 Beaucatcher Rd., Asheville, NC, 28805. For more information, call 828-254-8111. All classes are Saturdays, 12:30-5:30 p.m.

* Nov. 10: Writing And Revising Fiction with Karen Ackerson. The class will receive information on writing fiction, such as creating memorable characters, honest dialogue and sense of place. Discussion will include examples of award-winning fiction, and students may bring five pages to the class for discussion. Ackerson is Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency.

* Nov. 17: Writing Creative Non-Fiction Articles with Mike Weinstein. Beginning to intermediate writers will receive tips on interviewing, researching, writing the query letter, and selling human-interest stories to newspapers and magazines. Participants may bring up to three pages of writing to be critiqued by the group. Weinstein is features editor at The Charlotte Observer, and has won numerous awards.

* Dec. 1: The Writer's Way with Veronica Fisher. This class is primarily for people who are experiencing major life transitions and want to unleash their creativity through writing. In-class writing exercises and discussion will be led by Fisher, a journaling instructor and psychotherapist for 25 years.

* Dec. 8: Screenplay Writing Workshop with Nathan Ross Freeman. Aspiring scriptwriters will learn elements of the screenplay such as format, characterization, dialogue, theme, conflict and resolution. Three pages of work or a synopsis may be brought to the class for review. Freeman teaches writing at UNC-Charlotte.

Book published

PublishAmerica presents "Angel Attributes and How to Use Them in Your Life," by Sharon D. Thompson of Salisbury

Publicity describes the book as helping those interested in learning about and incorporating angel attributes into their own lives.

The release says, "We can all be an angel to someone in need, no matter the person, place, or time. Everyone needs an angel sometime. All of the angel encounters in this book are based on true events."

Thompson is a teacher, drama director and 50-year-old mother and grandmother. She has been inspired to share writings of inspiration. Her hobbies are singing, playing piano and sewing. She is a published writer who believes in all she does. All she gives is from the heart, inspired with new hope, the release says.

'Letters About Literature'

RALEIGH — Has reading a book ever changed your life? If so, the Library of Congress wants to hear about it. "Letters About Literature" is a national reading and writing program for readers in grades four through 12, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target.

To enter, readers write a letter to an author explaining how the author's work changed their view of the world or themselves. Readers can write to living or deceased authors, and can select from fiction, non-fiction, contemporary or classic literature. Deadline for entry is Dec. 14.

Judges will select the state's top essayists in three levels: Level I, grades four-six; Level II, grades seven-eight, and Level III, grades 9-12. Criteria include content, adherence to theme, exposition, language skills and originality of expression. The state winner on each level receives a $75 prize. These three also get a $50 Target gift card and their letters advance to national judging. Four state honorable mention winners on each level receive a $50 award.

To enter the 2008 contest, visit http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/ld/nccftb/ cftb_yaac.htm. For information, contact Frannie Ashburn, director, North Carolina Center for the Book, at frannie.ashburn@ncmail.net or call 919-807-7416.

Six national winners and 12 national runners-up. Each national winner will receive a $500 Target gift card and a $10,000 Reading Promotion Grant for their school or community library. The national runners-up will receive a $100 Target gift card and a $1,000 Reading Promotion Grant for their school or community library.

Last year, more than 55,000 students entered the "Letters About Literature" contest. The State Library is within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina's arts, history and culture. For more information about the Department of Cultural Resources, visit www.ncculture.com <http://www.ncculture.com/> .