Writing for Children
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…
Read MoreTurn Your Fragments into Stories
“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…
Read MoreHow to Write Non-Human Characters
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…
Read MoreCreating Believable Dialogue in Fiction
This seminar is designed for writers who want to sharpen their ability to write engaging and realistic dialogue. The class begins with examples of dialogue from various writers such as Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, Jamaica Kinkaid, Toni Morrison, Kelly Link, and Lorri Moore. After some examination and discussion, students will work on prompts and write…
Read MoreHow to Write in the Voice of Other Genders
Emotions are not gender specific. We all experience the same emotions. It just takes a little work (okay, a LOT), to get into the head of someone who’s not like us. In this session, we’ll explore techniques for how it can be done. But the emphasis of this class goes beyond gender. The goal is…
Read MoreDiscover Your Core Story: Define It In Three Words
Your core story has nothing to do with your chosen genre or the fictional landscapes you love. It has everything to do with the themes, conflicts and emotions that compel you. Discovering your core story will empower you because you will realize you can take it anywhere. Join us and reach your core.
Read MoreWriting About Family
Family. What word could be more evocative when thinking about writing memoir? And what better timing for a class like this than after so many holidays when our interactions with family are often more intensely fraught? Our sense of family is inextricably linked to our sense of home, both of which are foundational to memoir.…
Read MoreThe Fool’s Journey: A Generative Tarot Workshop
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…
Read MoreWriting Romance
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…
Read MoreMe, Myself, and I: Writing First Person POV
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…
Read More