This fall, join me for an 8-week online course on the “Foundations of Fiction,” via Philly’s own Blue Stoop. We’ll spend half of our time reading exemplary stories and discussing the the craft of fiction and the other half practicing our skills and workshopping our own original work. Open to all writers! Monday evenings, Sept. 14-Nov. 9.
Read more and sign up here and/or ask me a question. Financial aid is available.
Storytelling comes to all of us naturally. Fiction writing, on the other hand, is both craft—mastering the “rules”—and art—thoughtfully deploying, bending, and breaking those rules. In this course, we will examine five foundations of fiction: narrative structure, character, voice, place, and dialogue. Our ultimate goal is to turn our unique perspectives and ideas into compelling and satisfying short stories.
In the first half of the term, we will read exemplary stories and essays dedicated to each craft element. You will further explore these elements in writing exercises; these exercises are also designed to guide you in developing your original story. In the second half of the term, you will submit one original story and respond critically to your classmates’ work. The course culminates in a discussion of revision approaches and strategies.