Characters are the lifeblood of any work of fiction, but only in speculative fiction are they not always human. This workshop will explore what it takes to develop complex, interesting characters within a speculative context. How can a character from another world still be relatable to readers? How does the world they come from tie into character creation? What makes an alien truly alien? In this workshop, we'll explore all these questions and more through discussion, examples, and imaginative writing…

In recent years, fanfiction--that is, unofficial stories about the characters and worlds from popular media--has exploded into the mainstream. More and more professional writers are now coming out as fanfic writers too, many published novels have their origins as fanfiction works, and some have even argued that certain literary classics, such as Paradise Lost, are really fanfiction at heart. The boom in popularity reveals what fiction writers have known for a long time: fanfiction is an immense source of inspiration…

“I can always think of great situations, but how do I turn them into a story?” We all have a collection of ideas and even notes toward a story that somehow never come to fruition. We recognize compelling moments when we see them: a homeless person treated callously by a passerby; a child lost on a crowded street and reaching out to the wrong stranger; a spaceship landing in a suburban neighborhood which can only be seen by one family.…

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” This six-word story, supposedly written by Ernest Hemingway, is often used to demonstrate how a whole story can be embedded in a small moment—in this case, a classified ad. In our two-meeting workshop, we’ll look at a number of pieces of flash fiction in order to uncover the deeper stories embedded within. Then, after considering a number of possible opening lines for our own works of flash fiction, we’ll dive in. Time will be…

Let’s face it. Writing from the first person is a heck of a lot of fun. Akin to the dramatic monologue, to stand-up comedy, to one-person shows (monodramas), it can lead writers into markets they might not have considered. The ”I” sees all. Learning to write from this point of view is not just a matter of using a given pronoun. In this seminar, you will learn how to: choose your revelatory character; manipulate the distances the “I” creates between…

Romance is one of the most popular--and most lucrative--literary genres, but it’s also one of the most creative! From edgy romantic suspense to sweet second-chance romance there’s something in the romance genre for everyone, even if they don’t realize it yet. This seminar will introduce participants to the basics of the romance genre, with a special focus on the structure of a typical romance novel, including character arcs and, of course, the romance arc—so if you’re a non-romance writer looking…

The Tarot--the iconic deck of beautifully illustrated playing cards--has seen a bit of a resurgence in recent years. While the Tarot has historically been used to both play games and divine the future, the cards' intricate designs and deep-rooted archetypes also make them the perfect prompts for stuck writers. In this generative workshop, we’ll dust off those decks we bought for the artwork and put them to good use in helping us create new ideas, explore unique story structures, and…

This seminar is for writers who want an introduction to writing for children. The class will begin with an overview of recently published children’s books, including picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade books, and graphic novels for children. Drawing on her experience as an agented and traditionally-published children’s book author, the instructor will offer advice on the choices that should be made on form, genre, age category, and point-of-view when writing for children. Students will respond to prompts…