“Vivid writing takes its power from the author’s inner conflict, particularly when it comes to describing difficult material,” says instructor Allison Landa. “This class will give you the tools you need to share your own hard-to-tell tales.
You have a story to tell—maybe you’ve ventured to write it down. But something falls short and you don't yet feel confident enough about technique to make it sing. In this five-week course, we’ll dive into the elements of fiction craft
“Who would you communicate with if you could reach across time and space?” asks instructor Kerry Muir. “A child yet to be born, a beloved friend, a parent now gone? Our prose takes on a strikingly intimate quality when we write with a specific recipient in mind
When we read good stories they tend to endure in our hearts as touchstones that enrich our understanding of the world. We’ve all had the experience of reading something we like and wondering how the author developed such a breathtaking idea, with such compelling characters, and brought it to fruition
“So many of us think we should be able to sit down and write perfectly crafted sentences, paragraphs and stories without writing those raw first drafts,” says instructor Elaine Beale. “But the fact is that our ‘raw writing’ is not only necessary, it’s actually a lot of fun
“As screenwriters, we tend to work alone for protracted amounts of time in silence, but when we’re hard at work on a script, it’s invaluable to hear how our words hit the air,” says instructor Kerry Muir
“Each of us has a story to tell, but finding the words and voice for that story is an art and craft specific to each individual,” says instructor Kathy Garlick. “This class is designed for writers who may be uncovering and sharing that story for the first time
Picture books provide one of the most exciting and innovative spaces for play in the book world today. Genres collide, stories become graphic novels, and nonfiction dances from the page in lyrical twists and twirls
Big things can come in small packages—their own perfect beauty tied to their size. The short short story is literary proof that great fiction can come in a small package
“Combining observation and contemplation, inner and outer worlds, wit and heart, a compelling sonnet shines like a tiny jewel,” says instructor Kathleen McClung