A 5 Week Fiction Workshop
Saturdays, April 1st-April 29th
ALL LEVELS
This is a comprehensive course where Maine author Caitlin Wahrer shares everything she knows about writing an engaging novel, from the first seed of an idea to a nuanced final draft. These classes will be accessible to beginners and expansive for those who already have foundational knowledge. Participants can expect a relaxed and encouraging teaching style from an author who believes there’s no one way to tell a great story. Each class will start basic and go deep on topics like conflict and plot structure, character development, setting, and theme, with lessons learned from craft books, essays, interviews, and, of course, many novels. A small sampling of authors the class will discuss are Octavia Butler, Francesca Lia Block, Brandon Taylor, Sandra Ciscneros, Eric Maisel, Lisa Cron, Daniel Black, and Stephen King, with many others.
+ 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, March 30th 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.
Born to two hippies in a small town in Maine, Caitlin Wahrer left the state for college but returned to attend law school and practice law, where she worked on cases involving some of the broad issues she writes about in her debut novel, The Damage (Pamela Dorman Books at Penguin Random House). The Damage was nominated for the 2022 Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author and the 2022 Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction; it was the June 2021 pick for Elizabeth Egan's Group Text column in The New York Times and a New York Times Editor's Choice, the July 2021 pick for Grazia Magazine Book Club, and a Book of the Month Club Add-On. The Damage has been translated into six languages; the Spanish language version, La Herida, was the November 2022 BookishBeat selection for Bookish. Caitlin lives in southern Maine with her husband and their daughter. She is working on her second novel.
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.
$245 Members / $450 Nonmembers
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 a scholarship is still available. Application Due on March 5th at 9:00 a.m.
→ MORE INFORMATION
MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION