News

Fall Online Class: Novel Bootcamp

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This October, I’m bringing back my four-week “Structure Your Novel” boot camp, via Catapult. Through reading assignments, exercises, and discussion, you’ll find your story’s central conflict, establish a satisfying arc, and expand your outline. The course is designed for writers in both the drafting and revision stages. We’ll meet Thursday evenings over Zoom.

Read more and sign up here and/or ask me a question.

People are natural storytellers, yet writing a compelling story isn’t always intuitive. This four-week course recognizes that a good story requires technical skill, but that finding that organic and individual story also requires reflection, practice, and conversation.

This course—open to those who have yet to start writing, and those who are revising full-length drafts—guides you in developing a complete story structure for your novel. It provides tools for outlining new projects and finding fresh insight into stalled projects.

In this course, we will use written guides, writing exercises, assigned stories, and discussions to move from premise 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.

 

Fall Online Class: Foundations of Fiction

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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.

“The Staircase” Available Now

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In our town, there are two roads that cross on top of a hill. Go through the intersection and you’ll tip down toward the mall (east) or the turnpike ramp (west) or the high school (north) or the endless town-house developments (south). But everyone at school says there’s another tipping point there, a fifth cardinal direction.

Specifically, there is a staircase cut into a grassy hill: fifteen wooden planks, the final one inches above the asphalt. If you walk down them, if you take that last step, your foot will never hit the street.

You will disappear.

My new story “The Staircase”–about urban legends, gossip, and what we’ll do to keep our friends–is available now in the July/August 2020 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

You can now order individual paper copies (click the PayPal link) and e-books (all formats).

You can also subscribe! Order paper copy subscriptions from F&SF, a digital subscriptions (all formats) Weightless Books, or Kindle editions.

Events and Critiques to Support the Philadelphia Writers Emergency Fund

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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” →

Sun., May 3: Online Flash Fiction Workshop

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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.

More Lunch ‘n’ Learn Short Story Classes Added

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**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.

March 29: Write the Vote PHL

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Note: Postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Date in fall 2020 TBA.

On Sunday, March 29, writers across the country will hold literary readings dedicated to voter awareness, access, and rights. Here in Philly, the Central Library (1901 Vine St.) will host the flagship event, Write the Vote PHL.

Twenty-four (and counting!) Philadelphia luminaries will assemble to read works from and inspired by Toni Morrison, who inspired generations of writer-activists. Readers include Anthea Butler, Emma Eisenberg, John R. Keene, Carmen Maria Machado, Amanda Marcotte, and Trapeta Mayson. They will be joined by representatives from voter advocacy groups Fair Districts PA, HeadCount, and the League of Women Voters, as well as from the Colored Girls Museum, which “honors the stories, experiences, and history” of girls from the African diaspora.