This is a class for beginning fiction writers who want to learn the tools to create a short story or novel chapter they’ve always wanted to write, or advanced students who want to hone their craft tools and dive into a new work. Each day, we’ll introduce you to a craft element—sensory detail, dialogue, scene, and plot. We’ll discuss some examples of work by published writers to see how they use these craft elements. We’ll do generative work during class practicing this craft tool as well, and there will be opportunities to share them if you’d like. Over the course of the week, you’ll work on a two-page opening to your story, and you’ll share it with the class on the last day, where you’ll get some ideas for development. During our conference, we’ll discuss strategies for expanding your work into a longer story or novel. You’ll finish the week with a strong start to the work you’ve always been waiting to write, and ideas on how to move forward with it. In this workshop, we will generate new writing through guided exercises and prompts; offer feedback/first impressions on writing you produce in our week; workshop writing you bring from home.

Who are the characters you really want to read about? Not the well-behaved ones, but the scoundrels: the characters you love to hate and really want to follow. In this workshop for fiction writers at any level, we will discuss some stories and novel excerpts that feature characters who are flawed—the transgressors, the obsessives, and more—see how they work on the page, and develop some memorable characters of our own. We will do generative exercises in which you can explore different types of compelling characters. Students will receive a one- to two-page homework assignment on Saturday, and can share characters they create with the class on Sunday; we will do generative work both days. In this workshop, we will generate new writing through guided exercises and prompts; offer feedback/first impressions on writing you produce in our weekend.