A Workshop on Pacing in Narrative Nonfiction
What makes a work of narrative nonfiction memorable? Maybe it’s the lyrical prose, or the writer’s access to previously unreachable sources, or the sheer drama of the narrative. No matter the answer, one aspect of good nonfiction storytelling that’s easy to overlook but critical—whether in a magazine feature, a longform blog post, or a book—is pacing.
A writer is like a tour guide, stopping throughout the narrative to introduce readers to characters, recount dialogue, describe settings where action took place, and more. Like any tour guide, the writer must command their material: sometimes it’s important to substantiate sourcing, or to put the story in historical context. The trick is to check off all these boxes while still creating a page-turner.
In this workshop, participants will analyze different ways to pace a narrative, as well as techniques for delivering a captivating experience for the reader, from word choice and sentence construction to creating tension and a propulsive structure. The class will consider the work of top writers in the genre, including Susan Orlean, Claire Dederer, and Hampton Sides. Participants will examine instances where the writer used action to propel the story forward, as well as instances where they used character and exposition to alter the narrative rhythm in compelling ways.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have improved their understanding of how to pace nonfiction and gained clear strategies to bring to their own writing.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online, using the video meeting platform Zoom, which means students may participate from the comfort of their own homes (or anywhere with a reliable, fast internet connection). 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, June 18, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, MWPA’s Hannah Perry will be available for a test session on Zoom. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the test session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, 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.
David Howard is an author, freelance writer, and editor living in Portland. His two books, both nonfiction, are Chasing Phil: The Adventures of Two Undercover Agents with the World’s Most Charming Con Man (Crown, 2017) and Lost Rights: The Misadventures of a Stolen American Relic (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010). He has been featured on NPR and C-SPAN’s Book TV and written features for many national magazines, including The New York Times, Outside, Backpacker. As the executive editor of Popular Mechanics and Bicycling, he edited the work of many of the nation’s top nonfiction writers.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via PayPal. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
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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 Hannah Perry at hannah@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 full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on June 8 at 9:00 a.m.
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