Category: Events

This winter, I’m excited to bring back my one-day intensive and four-week bootcamp, both for aspiring and dedicated novel-writers.

• Laying the Groundwork for Your Novel Intensive
  Sunday, Dec. 19, 1-4pm EST
• Solve Your Novel’s Structure Boot Camp
  Thursdays, Feb. 3-24, 8:30-10pm EST

For aspiring novelists who who have an idea but don’t know how to start, Laying the Groundwork tackles the fundamentals of character and conflict; the elements of a satisfying narrative arc; and practical strategies for completing that first draft. Our time together will include presentations, guided writing, and discussion. In the end, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and concrete plans for your novel, as well as three worksheets to apply to this and future writing projects.

Solve Your Novel’s Structure takes a more in-depth approach. Over four weeks, we will use written guides, writing exercises, assigned stories, and discussions to move from idea to detailed synopsis, identifying universal principles that will make your distinct story a satisfying read. Writers will leave with outlines for their works-in-progress and a toolkit of strategies for future projects. The course is designed for both students who have yet to start writing and those who are revising full-length drafts.

Read more about Laying the Groundwork for Your Novel Intensive and Solve Your Novel’s Structure Boot Camp and/or ask me a question.

Read more and sign up via Catapult.

I’m looking forward to leading my three-hour intensive “Laying the Groundwork for Your Novel” again on October 16. Join us online to tackle the fundamentals of character and conflict; the elements of a satisfying narrative arc; and practical strategies for completing that first draft.

Students of all levels are welcome to participate, though this class is best-suited for folks who have their first novel idea but aren’t sure where to go next. Our time together will include presentations, guided writing, and discussion. In the end, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and concrete plans for your novel, as well as three worksheets to apply to this and future writing projects.

Read more and sign up here.

This fall, join me for an 8-week online course on the “Foundations of Fiction,” via Philly’s own Blue Stoop. We’ll spend half of our time reading exemplary stories and discussing the the craft of fiction and the other half practicing our skills and workshopping our own original work. Open to all writers! Monday evenings, Sept. 14-Nov. 9.

Read more and sign up here and/or ask me a question. Financial aid is available.

Storytelling comes to all of us naturally. Fiction writing, on the other hand, is both craft—mastering the “rules”—and art—thoughtfully deploying, bending, and breaking those rules. In this course, we will examine five foundations of fiction: narrative structure, character, voice, place, and dialogue. Our ultimate goal is to turn our unique perspectives and ideas into compelling and satisfying short stories.

In the first half of the term, we will read exemplary stories and essays dedicated to each craft element. You will further explore these elements in writing exercises; these exercises are also designed to guide you in developing your original story. In the second half of the term, you will submit one original story and respond critically to your classmates’ work. The course culminates in a discussion of revision approaches and strategies.

Help support the Philadelphia Writers Emergency Fund, organized by 215 Festival and Blue Stoop to aid area writers, booksellers, and small press employees in financial distress due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, April 25, 4pm, I’ll join Liz Moore, Mecca Sullivan, Ru Freeman, and Jessamine Chan for a donors-only Zoom reading. ($25 donation)

I’m also offering written feedback for a story, chapter, or essay. ($50 donation)

Learn more about fund, give if you can, or apply if you need support.

More rewards:

Continue reading “Events and Critiques to Support the Philadelphia Writers Emergency Fund” →

Join me for the online workshop “Reading and Writing Flash Fiction.” In this one-hour workshop, participants will discuss structure, form, and examples (distributed in advance) of flash fiction, as well as generate some new ideas and pieces. The goal of this workshop is to learn how flash works and leave with a draft.

Tickets are available on a sliding scale, $15-25. All proceeds support one of my favorite Philly bookstores, A Novel Idea.

When: Sunday, May 3, noon-1pm
Where: A Novel Idea via Zoom (registrants will receive a link by email)
How: Register here.

You can also read more and share via Facebook.

**Postponed: New Summer Dates TBA**

Join me for a lunch-time discussion of contemporary short fiction–some of my all-time favorite stories–hosted by Open Book Productions. Sign up for any class or all three. All classes are held on from 12:15-1pm. Read more.

Wednesday, April 22:
“Interesting Facts” by Adam Johnson
A woman with cancer faces her own mortality, as her children retreat into imagination and a beautiful rival befriends her famous husband.

Wednesday, April 29:
“Walkdog” by Sofia Samatar
A high school student’s term paper about a local legend reveals a story of first love and bullying—and a desperate plea for help.

Wednesday, May 6:
“Farangs” by Rattuwut Lapcharoensap
A young Thai man finds love with an American tourist, and must choose where his loyalty lies.