Hi Jane,

I just wanted to tell you how great Jess’ short story class, Powerful Short Stories, was yesterday.  It was exactly what I was looking for!

We talked about the differences in content and structure in short stories vs the novel.  We discussed how novel focus more on emotion and character and short stories focus more on theme and plot.  We talked about how every character in the short story somehow expressed the theme or relates to the theme in a different way.  We talked about keeping our characters limited to 3-4. And we discussed how the plotting is different in the short story as well.  It sort of all came together for me.  Now I just have to write it! (The easy part right?).

We also workshopped the stories we’re working on then worked through the seven basic questions as they apply to our stories.  We even talked about the history of the short story.

Anyway, I highly recommend this class and Jess as an instructor.  I always feel more creatively motivated when I take classes from her.  She is also very adept at interweaving positive feedback with what we need to improve on in our work.  That, at least for me, is really important, especially as a beginning writer.  She knows her stuff and she knows how to explain it well. So hats off to Jess and the short story class! (And the other classes she teaches, such as her Historical Fiction class).  I hope it’s offered again.

Thanks,
Reed Graner

One Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   Berkeley and SF
$95 members/$110 non-members

Whether you’re intrigued by Norse settlements, your own grandmother’s journey to America, or an imaginary character from a far-away time, historical fiction can be an enchanting new outlet for your writing. This introductory workshop will help you discover the unique requirements of writing historical fiction, and set you up for a successful journey into a popular new genre.

Says instructor Jess Wells, “We’ll look into how to research and when to stop researching, how to create credible characters without arcane dialogue and, most importantly, how to choose a historical era that excites your imagination. I’ve chosen to focus on the Middle Ages because I’m fascinated by inventions that change the way people live, and this era was filled with watershed moments. Of course, the gorgeous fabrics and remarkable settings don’t hurt, either.”

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Five Saturdays, Feb. 25-March 24, 10:30 am to 1 pm
$185 members/$215 non-members   San Francisco
Testimonials for Jess

Whether you’re intrigued by Norse settlements, your own grandmother’s journey to America, or an imaginary character from a far-away time, historical fiction can be an enchanting new outlet for your writing, transporting you and your writing into worlds that are incredibly fun to create.

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