Program Feature: Fiction

We all have stories to tell, whether we’ve never written anything before, or we’re dusting off the old writing muscles and getting back in the game.

This summer, The Muse is thrilled to offer a robust and comprehensive Fiction program for writers at all levels and stages of the process.

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Fiction 1: Monday Evenings

This class is a foundational course to get started or begin writing fiction again. We will learn and explore all of the essential fundamentals of the craft of fiction writing. We will discover and begin to understand how to write an active scene, define a character, and move your story from A to B, or Z. We will also learn how to workshop and revise our stories, working to meet our individual goals. It does not matter what prior experience you have with writing.

This course is taught by Abi Putnam.

Abi Putnam received her MFA in Creative Writing from Arcadia University and her fiction has appeared in Maudlin House, Five on the Fifth, and Frostfire Worlds. She likes weird fiction and isn’t afraid to say so.

Fiction 1: Monday Evenings runs Mondays bi-weekly from Jul 12 – Aug 30, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm.

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Fiction 1: Thursday Mornings

This session of Fiction 1 is taught by Jacob Gregory.

Enter into the world of creative writing, learning the fundamentals, engaging in discussions and workshops, and sharing your own creative voice with Jacob Gregory.

Fiction 1: Thursday Mornings runs Thursdays bi-weekly from Jul 1 – Aug 19, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm.

The best books never hurry. They treat every chapter, every sentence, as if it’s the most important part of the story. So, writing is less about getting your reader excited for what will happen later on in the book, but getting them engaged in what’s happening at that very moment. -Jacob Gregory

Who are Jacob’s favorite authors?

• Joseph Heller: author of Catch 22, the first book I recommend.
• Robert Jordan: author of the Wheel of Time Series: monumental in its scope and world building, yet always focused on the heart of the story: the characters.
• Vladimir Nabokov: master of the English language, with a voice that caries his whole narrative.

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Fiction 2: Wednesday Mornings

The Fiction Workshop Level 2 continues where Fiction 1 left off. Returning students and writers new to The Muse (who have fiction writing experience) will be encouraged to produce and submit original work for discussion by the group. Using the students own work and stories published by established writers, the participants will take a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing. We will refine the understanding of POV and the limitations & benefits of those choices, learn revision on the sentence level, continue to learn how to give and take constructive critique, and master writing active prose.

This class is taught by Alicia Dekker.

Fiction 2: Wednesday Mornings runs Wednesdays bi-weekly from Jun 16 – Aug 25, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm.

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The Fiction Workshop: Tuesday Mornings

The Fiction Workshop continues with returning members and new members with fiction writing workshop experience. Members of the group will actively write and workshop original work while taking a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing. Each class will include a short craft lecture covering topics such as POV, writing scenes, dialogue, plotting, POV, and more. Students will continue to learn how to give and take constructive critique and master writing active prose. All members of the group will have the opportunity to submit material for the workshop. You will have at least two to three opportunities to be critiqued during the session.

This class is taught by Sylvia Liu.

The Fiction Workshop: Tuesday Mornings runs Tuesdays bi-weekly from Jun 22 – Aug 31, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm.

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Flash Fiction 2

By popular demand, Flash Fiction 2 is a continuation of the Flash Fiction Workshop 1. This class will build on the foundations from the first workshop, focusing on: the contemporary and historical roots of flash fiction, the freedom of form, the importance of taking risks, in-depth editing techniques, and the future of flash fiction as we know it. Join us as we learn to write a flash fiction story that “encases its own separate note, the way each drop engulfs its own blue pearl of light” (Stuart Dybek, “Nighthawks”). Students should expect to be challenged, writing at least one (250-750 word) flash fiction story each week and submitting said story to be workshopped.

Flash Fiction 2 is taught by Abi Putnam.

Flash Fiction 2 runs Wednesdays bi-weekly from Jul 21 – Aug 11, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm.

Here’s why Abi thinks you should take her class:

Flash fiction is great for novel writing fatigue, creativity boosting, or freedom of exploring non-traditional story forms. This particular class is a part two that builds on foundations explored in flash fiction one. I encourage students who have already taken flash fiction one, or students who already have a clear idea of what flash fiction is, to join. We do a combination of writing prompts, free form writing, and workshop.

Who are Abi Putnam’s favorite authors?

• Amelia Gray
• Amber Sparks
• Stephen Graham Jones
• Colson Whitehead
• Karen Russel
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• Ray Bradbury

Read more about Abi and her work with PPM Magazine here. Find Abi on Instagram here.

 

See a full catalog of our Summer classes, workshops, and seminars and register HERE.

***Tuition assistance and flexibility is available to all who request it, no questions asked. Just select the “I want to talk about tuition assistance” box when checking out!