Writing Classes

Begins April 14. Duration: 5 weeks
In China they’re called “smoke-longs,” because people read them on the bus or at work during cigarette breaks. In Japan they’re called “palm-of-the-hand stories.” In America, we refer to them as “sudden fiction,” “flash fiction,” or, simply, “the very short story.” The beauty of flash fiction is that it evokes a world, a situation, a series of scenes, or perhaps a complex relationship in very few words. Whereas a novel takes years to write, a very short story may materialize in a day. For the purposes of this class, we define flash fiction as 750 words or fewer. You’ll come away from this five-week workshop with five complete flash fictions–brief, beautiful narrative gems ready to be released into the world.
About the online classes: Affordable, informative online creative writing classes feature a weekly live chat, printable lectures, writing exercises and assignments, recommended readings, and detailed instructor and peer feedback. Combining the convenience of an online setting with the camaraderie of other writers, my online creative writing classes provide a solid foundation in narrative craft and are a wonderful way to jump start your writing practice.

Begins May 15, 2012. Duration: 6 weeks. If you've always wanted to write fiction, this class is for you. Learn how to create conflict, choose a compelling point of view, and move your story forward. Understand what makes a scene tick and what makes a character worth caring about. Each week features a lecture, reading and writing assignments, live chat, and discussion forum focusing on one of the fundamental elements of fiction craft: characterization point of view structure setting dialogue plot A weekly lecture on a specific aspect of craft. Print it out, study it, and come to the forum with questions and comments. Weekly readings to demonstrate the craft element addressed in the lecture Weekly live chat Open discussion forum Weekly writing assignments to keep you motivated and help you practice the techniques you've learned Feedback on your work from the instructor and your peers to help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, and turn skeletons into stories The classroom is always open: accessible 24 hours a day for the duration of the class