Short story workshop in November

Marlowe and Typewriter
Marlowe and Typewriter

My September workshop sold out, so I opened an Intensive in November. This covers exactly the same material as the eight week course, but over the course of a single, very intense, weekend. This is ideal for people who tend to overthink their work and never finish things.

Registration opens at noon Central on Saturday, July 20th.

Think you never have time to write? Think again. I wrote my Hugo-nominated short story “Evil Robot Monkey” in ninety minutes. If you have ninety minutes, you can have a story — all it takes is understanding how to make every word work double-time. In this workshop, learn the same techniques I use to create new fiction. Through exercises focusing on viewpoint, dialogue, and plot structure, you’ll learn how to let nothing go to waste. By the end of this eight-week workshop, participants will be given a writing prompt and complete their own short story.

REGISTRATION OPENS on Saturday, July 20th at noon Central.

Think you never have time to write? Think again. Mary Robinette Kowal wrote her first Hugo-nominated short story “Evil Robot Monkey” in ninety minutes. If you have ninety minutes, you can have a story — all it takes is understanding how to make every word work double-time. In this workshop, learn the same techniques she uses to create new fiction. Through exercises focusing on viewpoint, dialogue, and plot, you’ll learn how to let nothing go to waste. By the end of this three day workshop, participants will be given a writing prompt and complete their own short story.

Classes will be taught via G+ from November 22-24th.

Each session, you will be given an exercise that builds on the previous session. Classwork will be uploaded to a shared Google Drive folder visible only to you and your classmates. The class will be divided between lecture and group critique. The class is capped at eight students, to create a class size that allows the most interaction, feedback and personal attention for each of you.

Class requirements: You need an interest in writing short stories, but you do not need to have written or published anything yet. You also must be able to use G+ Hangouts (Note: You don’t need a web camera, although they’re useful, but you do need a working microphone, a G+ account, the internet and some speakers so you can hear us).

This is an intensive workshop, so do not plan anything else that weekend.

Schedule (all times are Central time)

Friday, November 22nd

7pm-9pm
Introduction, discussion of POV using specificity, and focus. Exercise 1: Context

 

Saturday, November 23rd

8am

Post assignment.

11am-12pm
Critique of homework. Second POV assignment

1:30pm
Post assignment/meal break

3pm-5pm
Discuss nature of dialog, use of rhythms to distinguish character. In class exercise, followed by homework.

6:30pm
Post assignment/meal break

8pm-10pm
Plot structure.  Plot homework

Sunday, November 24th

9am-11pm
Discuss plot exercise, unpacking, and outlining for short fiction. Outline homework 

Noon
Post homework/meal break

2pm-4pm
Discuss outlines. Recap of plot structure. Final exercise.

4pm-5:30pm
Write a story in ninety minutes.

5:30pm
Post story/meal break

7pm-10pm
Critique of stories/recap

FAQ:

Q: Why are there only five spots open when you take eight students?
A: Because I let some people pre-register.

Q: What if I can’t keep up with the homework?
A: You’ll be given a partial refund and asked to drop the class.

Q: Is there a waiting list?
A: Yes. Once registration sells out, you’ll have the chance to sign up on the waiting list for this class

 

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8 thoughts on “Short story workshop in November”

  1. Catherine Brennan

    It’s probably on the site somewhere, but I’m not seeing it. How does one go about registering?

  2. If we were waitlisted on a previous class, how do we know if we are allowed to pre-register?

  3. Will you be doing future 8-week courses? I’d really like to take one, but looks like I missed the September-October option…

  4. Catherine Brennan

    I’m interested in either option, but was planning to write a novel this November as part of National Novel Writing Month. I can’t imagine also doing an intensive workshop the same month. Hope to take advantage of future opportunities.

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