A 6 Week Fiction Workshop
Tuesdays July 12th to August 16th
Level: All Levels
How does a writer develop an idea into a finished work of fiction? Writing is not just jotting down ideas as they arrive: it's a process of drafting, shaping, and revising that leads to a polished final work. In this course, participants will dive into how to jumpstart their story ideas, from inception to the creation and revision of drafts.
Participants will explore the elements of fiction writing craft—such as voice, structure, character, and perspective—and will work on honing and revising stories. The class will discuss how to make writing bold, vital, and believable, and how to craft and sustain narrative and thematic threads. Participants will read classic examples of short fiction, as well as early drafts of classic stories, and study how stories change from a rough draft to the final published work.
Weekly readings will include stories by Raymond Carver, Zadie Smith, Karen Russell, George Saunders, Rick Moody, and Flannery O’Connor, and novel excerpts from Virginia Woolf and Nabokov. Short, optional exercises will be offered as prompts for writing between classes. Participants will also be expected to read and offer feedback on each other’s work.
CLASS TAKEAWAYS:
- In-depth peer and instructor feedback on a novel chapter or short story and short homework submissions
- Each week’s session will include manuscript workshopping and discussion of fiction-writing craft.
- Strategies for staying productive and keeping your writing going in the future
+ SUBMIT After registering, participants are asked to submit a manuscript (short fiction or a novel excerpt) of up to 5,000 words by no later than 9:00 a.m. on June 28th. Please email the manuscript as an attachment (Word files only, please; email Meghan Sterling if this is not possible for you) to programs@mainewriters.org with the subject line: “HURLEY WORKSHOP MSS.” Please use standard formatting (1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman).
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, July 7th from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Blair Hurley is the author of The Devoted, published by W.W. Norton, which was longlisted for The Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Her work is published or forthcoming in The Georgia Review, Ninth Letter, Guernica, Paris Review Daily, West Branch, Mid-American Review, and elsewhere. She received a 2018 Pushcart Prize and scholarships from Bread Loaf and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. VISIT www.blairhurley.com
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Email Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org to see if the scholarship is still available. Application Due on June 30th at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION