FULL/WAIT LIST ONLY
A 5-Week Fiction Workshop
Thursdays, September 24 to October 22
While fiction writers face many common craft and storytelling challenges, because their goals and focuses are different, there is no formula or maxim on which they can all rely. Instead, to arm themselves for the enduring challenges of revision, writers must learn to see their work both for what it is and what it could be.
This workshop, intended for intermediate and advanced fiction writers, will reckon with participants’ work-in-progress, assess the choices already made, and search for ways each piece can become more fully itself. By considering each piece on its own terms, participants will have the chance to consider a variety of creative styles, a host of creative challenges, and the strengths and weaknesses of various solutions. Thoughtful workshopping provides a singular opportunity to diversify one’s creative experience and sharpen one’s vision in order to better assess one’s own work.
Workshop participants will exchange in-progress stories or novel excerpts and engage in detailed, craft-based conversation about the goals of each piece, its strengths, and how it can be focused and refined. Participants will receive written feedback from the instructor as well as feedback from other participants. Each meeting will include the discussion of two participant pieces as well as a craft lecture, with topics being chosen in response to the group’s work and interests. Possible craft topics include but are not limited to: perspective, voice, time, structure, plotting, dialogue, action, description, exposition, thought on the page, and beginnings and endings.
This workshop is limited to 10 students.
+ 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 September 18. Please email the manuscript as an attachment (Word files only, please; email Hannah Perry if this is not possible for you) to perry@mainewriters.org with the subject line: “MERRILL WORKSHOP MSS.” Please use standard formatting (1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman).
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online, using the video meeting platform 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 Tuesday, September 22 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, an MWPA staff member will offer 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.
DATES The workshop will meet every Thursday between September 24 and October 22, unless unforeseen scheduling issues should arise.
PAYMENTS MWPA members may pay for this workshop in one payment, or may pay in two installments of $122.50, due at registration and October 15. *PLEASE NOTE If you have selected to pay for this multi-week workshop on the installment option, once registration for the workshop has closed, you are responsible for paying all of the remaining installments. If you should, for any reason, leave the workshop after registration has closed, you are still responsible for paying all of the remaining installments.
CEU The MWPA is proud to offer Continuing Education Units (CEU) for this workshop. The CEU is a nationally recognized method of quantifying the time spent in the classroom during non-credit learning. Ten hours of instruction equal one (1) CEU. (*Please note that by definition, CEUs are non-credit continuing education and therefore not transferrable as academic credit.)
Judson Merrill grew up in Maine, studied literature and writing at Brown University, and received his MFA from Brooklyn College, where he also taught writing for several years. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Iowa Review, Chicago Review, The Massachusetts Review, The Southampton Review, Unstuck, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and other publications. He has been an Artist in Residence at Millay Colony, Ox-Bow, Lighthouse Works, Guild Hall, and Hewnoaks. He now teaches at the University of Southern Maine.
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.
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 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. Please note that mail delivery to the MWPA office is currently experiencing extensive delays, so please email hannah@mainewriters.org first if you would like to register by mail.
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 September 14 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