One challenge of translating research into writing is building scenes or descriptive details from facts. How do writers of literary nonfiction and poetry create characters, places, and dramatic narratives rooted in true details? And how do you move back and forth between researched material and personal narrative? In this highly generative class designed for writers at every level, we will study, discuss and apply craft techniques of scene-making. A good scene offers a point of view, enhances character development, and evokes emotion. The ability to craft great scenes is among the most valuable skills you can cultivate. So, we’ll begin our week reading and writing scenes, with an eye toward weaving in true and factual detail that we will eventually find in research. While we won’t be formally workshopping material, we will share our drafts in class and make time to explore revision. And along the way, we’ll ask questions to help you conjure scenes that are rich with ideas and emotions. Students will leave with new and revised material, improved skills in weaving research into their creative work, and a self-defined sense of direction of how to move forward with works-in-progress.

In this workshop, we will generate new writing through guided exercises and prompts; provide first impressions on writing you produce in our week together.