Fiction Writing Workshops 

Beginning Fiction Workshop:

The Hero’s Journey

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20 instructional hours

$200 per student

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Do you love writing? Do you have a story to tell, but are unsure of where or how to start? Are you struggling to get your ideas down on the page even though they make perfect sense in your mind? If so, this course is for you!

 

Rooted in Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, this course will give you the essential craft and storytelling tools necessary to turn your ideas into fully-realized stories. You will learn time-tested plot structure, character development, and storytelling tropes. You will learn the traditional rules of writing so that you may bend, mold, and break them to put your own spin on classic techniques and forge stories uniquely your own. You will develop your observation skills, descriptive language skills, imagine and evolve rich characters, and learn the discipline of “chunking” - the art of incorporating daily writing. You will dive deep into scene-setting, character motivation, conflict/obstacle development, and suspense. Working collaboratively, you will critique your fellow writers’ work and learn how to workshop (give and receive feedback). You will also learn strategies for revising and editing your own work.

 

Good writers are often good readers. In this course, you will read and analyze works of short fiction by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allan Poe, and Isaac Asimov. We will also look at examples of effective storytelling and craft elements in mediums such as Television, Movies, and Video Games (The Last of Us is a master-class in storytelling). Likewise, we will examine examples of what not to do short across various storytelling mediums. Additionally, we will listen to the sage wisdom of successful authors in podcast clips and short YouTube videos.

 

More than that, it is my sincere hope you have fun and leave with a deepened love of writing.

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This workshop will culminate in the completion of a short story or the first 1-3 chapters of a novel-length work.

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Intermediate Fiction Workshop:
Progressive Drafting and Iteration  

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20 instructional hours

$220 per student 

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So, you’ve written a story. Fantastic! However, just because that first draft has a beginning, middle, and end doesn’t mean your work is done. In fact, your writing journey is far from over.

 

Based in the teachings of writing guru Robert McKee, this class will focus on the drafting process that is key to turning a rough first draft into a polished final draft. We will follow literary theorist Anne Lamott’s 3-step drafting process, writing our “Vomit Draft,” “Mop-Up Draft,” and “Show-People Draft.”  

 

Every writing instructor I’ve ever had has told me “good writing is re-writing.” What I’ve found this to mean is, finishing the first draft of a story is just the first step toward what the story will eventually become. To this end, we will focus on iteration – revising and re-writing your story so the plot, characters, and settings are their best possible versions. We will do writing exercises to help develop your character, setting, and plot construction. We will focus on exposition, emotional engagement/connecting with your reader, and crafting compelling endings to our stories. You will workshop your classmates’ stories, providing them with constructive criticism.

 

Adaptations are a form of iteration in which a story is translated from one medium to another. While this is sometimes a means by which an existing story is improved, often, something is lost when moving between mediums. We will read written works that have been adapted to film or television as a way of examining how iteration can change a story either for the better or worse.

 

This course will culminate in a polished draft of a short story or first 1-3 chapters of a novel-length work. Moreover, I want you to leave this course feeling confident in their ability to write high-quality stories with compelling plots and characters.

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A first draft or substantive outline is highly recommended but not necessary for this workshop. 

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Advanced Fiction Workshop: 

Writing to Publish

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20 instructional hours

$240 per student

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Is your goal to be a published author? Do you dream of seeing your books land on bookstore shelves and top-seller lists?

 

In this course, we'll polish your short fiction with the goal of submitting it to potential publishers.

 

You will learn where to look for publishers and agents seeking submissions.

We'll create submission packets, cover querying agents for novel-length works, and explore how the traditional publishing world works.

 

We will also explore alternate avenues for publication, including self-publishing.

 

Obligatory note: There are no guarantees that submitting your work will result in its being published (remember, rejection is part of the process!).

However, this class will give you the tools you need for the best odds for success.

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This workshop will culminate in submitting a short story for publication.

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Memoir Writing Workshop: 

Telling Your Story

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20 instructional hours 

$225 per student

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“There are no ordinary moments.” ~ Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior

 

Everyone has at least one great story to tell. Only, we sometimes need help finding what it is about the lives we’ve led that’s unique and from which people may learn or find inspiration.

 

In this class, you will examine the events in your life that made you who currently are. You will learn how a memoir is different from an autobiography. You will learn to build the emotional framework required to engage readers. You will work to discover the theme of your story.

 

Honesty and vulnerability are essential to writing a good memoir. As such, I work diligently to ensure this course is a safe space in which everyone can feel comfortable being honest with their readers as well as themselves. In a world in which we often feel we live average and sometimes mundane lives, I want to help you find what makes you extraordinary.

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Ready to tell your story?

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