A 10 Week Online Workshop
Tuesdays, April 9th to June 11th
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Like good novels, good nonfiction books (including memoirs, historical books, and essay collections) give the reader a compelling narrative sweep that keeps them turning the pages, hungry for what happens next. Of course, the writer knows what happens next, because the story being told comes from their own life experiences. But creating that narrative sweep can be challenging for the writer who is trying to complete their first book-length work.
This workshop is designed to answer the hard questions writers face when structuring their first book-length work of nonfiction. How much of a time span should the book cover? Does one story need to be told, or many? Should the narrative be sequenced chronologically or thematically?
Through close readings of contemporary non-fiction books, writing exercises, lectures, and workshopping of participants’ manuscripts, this course will help writers understand how their books will unfold. Writers will also feel empowered to try out structural approaches that reject the notion of a beginning, middle and end—just like the lives they reflect, memoirs need not be structured like a fairy tale.
Participants should have some specific ideas of what their non-fiction book will be about, and may be underway with their writing, but do not need to have completed a book-length manuscript.
This class will study selections from the books of Dani Shapiro, Patti Smith, John Hodgman, David Sedaris, Michael Chabon, Baratunde Thurston, Nicholas Meyer, Gary Shteyngart, Etgar Keret, Ursula K. Le Guin, Chuck Klosterman, Rob Sheffield, Sarah Vowell, Caseen Gaines, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
+ SUBMIT After registering, participants are asked to submit a manuscript (a memoir or narrative nonfiction excerpt, ideally from the beginning of the manuscript, but this is not required) of up to 5,000 words by no later than 9:00 AM on April 1. Please email the manuscript to programs@mainewriters.org with the subject line: “BRITT WORKSHOP MSS.” Please help MWPA conserve paper by using standard formatting (1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman) and keeping spacing between sections to a minimum (e.g. no title page). *Word docs (ideally) or PDFs only, please. Please save the document as "Last name, First name--Britt MSS"
+ 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. 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).
Ryan Britt is the author of the non-fiction books Luke Skywalker Can’t Read (2015), Phasers on Stun! (2022) and, forthcoming in Fall 2023, The Spice Must Flow, all from Plume/Dutton Books. Ryan’s writing appears regularly with Inverse, Den of Geek, StarTrek.com, and Esquire. He has written for VICE, Vulture, the New York Times, and elsewhere. Ryan has taught creative writing for over a decade as an instructor at places like Gotham Writers' Workshop, Catapult, Colby College, and MWPA. He is a senior editor at Fatherly and lives in South Portland, Maine with his wife and daughter.
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 programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
$475 Members/$675 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. Application Due on March 26th 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