Sometimes the best way to develop your story is to write around the edges of it, to discover the world around the plot, the history of characters, the provenance of an object. In other words, sometimes you have to explore ideas that won't go directly on the page but will flavor everything else that does. The map of the old house, the contents of the bedside table, the one missing from the family photographs – none of these are focused directly on the plot, yet they often hold the key to that elusive plot point or reveal the subconscious drives behind your character's actions. Why? Because in a well-written story, everything connects. If writing is weaving, then every character, every event, and every object is a thread that strengthens the whole. This workshop is best suited to writers well into their draft, whether that is a novel or a short story. Writers should leave the workshop with a new understanding of their work and a clear path to revision. In this workshop, we will generate new writing through exercises and assignments.

Why do some stories make us lean forward? How do some books keep us turning the pages long past when our better judgment has told us to go to bed? The answer is suspense. And it belongs in every kind of story. Suspense is more than just whodunnit (or whydunnit). Suspense is the necessary ingredient to get a reader invested in your story. Tension is created when we are emotionally invested in the characters but don't know what will happen to them. The stakes are high, the questions are unanswered, and the release awaits us if only we keep reading. What is the central question of your story? This is a promise you make to the reader, a promise you must fulfill to make reading your work a gratifying experience. In this week-long workshop, we will identify this central question and expand outwards to see how it connects to every scene, character, and setting. Each day will include in-class writing and longer exercises to develop between sessions. We will study examples from other writers, and each participant will be able to workshop some of their writing. By the end of the week, your writing should be well on its way to being "un-put-downable." In this workshop, we will generate new writing through exercises and assignments, and provide feedback on the writing you produce in our week.