Class

Advanced Fiction Workshop

Looking for a more intensive workshop environment? This course is for fiction writers looking to give dedicated focus to their work in an intimate and rigorous setting. Students will write and polish at least one piece of fiction while further developing their knowledge of the genre.

What makes a story “work,” and why? What expectations or assumptions do we hold about the craft of fiction, and how might we challenge these assumptions? What can we learn with regards to mechanics, structure, and technique? And, how can we identify successful choices being made by other writers, and apply similar choices to our own work?

Only students who have taken previous fiction workshops at Loft or elsewhere should apply. This course will be capped at 10, with the aim of fostering a close-knit workshopping environment. While the class will primarily be focused on discussing student-written work, we will also review mechanics such as description, tension, setting, characterization, and structure. We will also discuss strategies for participating in workshops and supporting one another through the process of finding and developing the individual “voice.” Published authors studied may include Jhumpa Lahiri, Charles Baxter, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jonathan Escoffery, and others.

In this class, students will:
-revise and polish at least one piece of fiction (depending on class size)
-read and discuss a series of published pieces
-develop a set of workshop "best practices" for our class
-challenge our existing assumptions and expectations for what fiction is "supposed" to look like through discussions of craft mechanics (description, setting, characterization, etc.)

No class on November 26.

This is an advanced class that requires a submission in order to be considered for participation. Students are asked to submit a sample ranging from 8-15 pages at least 7 days before the start of class, in font no smaller than 12, to [email protected] with "Advanced Fiction Workshop" in the subject line. Ensure your name and contact information (email, phone number) appear on the writing sample and in your email signature. Only PDF or Word documents will be accepted; please send as an attachment to your email, NOT in the body of your email. Incorrect formats will not be accepted. Late submissions can not be considered.

Please submit this request form at least two to three weeks in advance if you have any accessibility requests for this class. This class takes place in-person, at the Loft at Open Book. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.