This workshop is for fiction writers who are looking to regain momentum and create new work. Writers should have some previous workshop experience. Both short stories and novel excerpts are welcome. 

In class, we’ll use prompts, such as fictionalizing a “true” story or writing about a setting, to help generate new ideas. As we discuss student submissions, we’ll also focus on several aspects of craft that can propel your work forward, including the interdependent relationship between character and plot, the balance between scene and exposition, and writing pithy, characterizing dialogue. We’ll talk about process, too: how to establish a sustainable writing practice, what strategies you can use when you feel blocked, and when is it most helpful to get feedback? 

Each writer will have the opportunity to submit their work twice for peer and instructor feedback and to meet with the instructor once for an individual conference. Writers will leave this workshop with a better command of craft, a toolkit for handling writer's block, and a heightened instinct for playful, engaging dialogue.