Six Fridays: July 16-Dec. 3 (once a month, July 16, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 5, Dec. 3)
7-9:30 p.m; $335 members/$365 others; San Francisco

Attention: This class is now full. A new continuation class will start in our Winter 2011 class, in January 2011. If you want to keep working on your fiction in the meantime, consider taking Josh Mohr’s 9-week fiction workshop on Sunday evenings, or his fiction continuation class, also on Friday nights. These classes aren’t focused solely on novel writing, but would still be useful to you. Josh is a novelist, himself.

(Are you a beginner? Check out Karen’s other class, Starting Your Novel)

Congratulations! You’ve started your novel. You have a sense of your main character and some ideas of the plot, maybe even a full plot outline. You’ve written a few pages, gotten some feedback, and know what your strengths are. Now the challenge is: TO KEEP GOING AND NOT GIVE UP.

“Most of us need help with that,” says instructor Karen Bjorneby. “We need someone in our corner, gently enforcing some discipline while at the same time encouraging us. We need someone to kick ideas around with. We need help with craft, someone to help us make sure our story is coming together. And we need to be around others who are in the same boat.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Sundays, Aug. 15-Sept. 19 (skip Sept. 5), 2-4:30 p.m.  Berkeley
$185 members/$215 non-members

Special “Package” Deal: Take this Berkeley class together with the Berkeley “Intro to Fiction” class (5 weeks plus 5 weeks, back to back) for the price of one 9-week class. Please Note: This special applies only if you choose the “Intro to Fiction/Starting Your Novel ‘Combo’ option” when you register.

You want to write a novel, or you are writing a novel, but maybe you shy away from talking about it with your co-workers, neighbors or brother-in-law (you know the way he rolls his eyes and calls you a dreamer). So come to this workshop instead, where you’ll meet other people who are doing what you’re doing, or want to do. “We’ll talk about your idea, how to make sure it has enough weight to carry a novel,” say Karen Bjorneby. “We’ll talk about your character and make sure she’s so compelling we all can’t wait to find out what she’ll do next. . . Read the rest of this entry »

“Karen is a fantastic teacher, I am really impressed by the quality of her instruction!”

Parnaz Foroutan

***

Karen’s course exceeded my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I got out of it. I loved her lectures; very informative, filled with valuable nuggets. I expect I will refer to her handouts and my notes for a long time to come. Her in-class exercises were thought-provoking, and her feedback on everyone’s writing was thoughtful, encouraging and full of generosity and compassion. — Steven Rossen

***

Karen is a fabulous teacher! She is just such an astute teacher, it’s amazing.

Thanks,

Jane

***

Hi, Jane…

I took “Writing a Novel” (approximate title) with Karen Bjorneby. I had hoped that the class would keep my creative juices flowing, help me scrape together a plan, and give me some honest critique…and it did more than that. I learned a TON about novel-writing in the sessions themselves; Karen did a wonderful job breaking the class into major but digestible chunks: character, setting, plot, and voice.

Moreover, Karen’s critique of my work was spot-on. I’d known that some areas were weak, but I couldn’t have guessed that someone could tell me exactly why and what I might try to improve them. And the critique, while incisive, contained enough broad wisdoms to help me apply it throughout. I actually think I have a solid base for writing a good story now, which is rather remarkable for the money and the five-week commitment.

I’d recommend Karen and your series to anyone.

Thanks, and happy holidays…

Hillary Read