Fiction Workshop

I do not believe that great authors are necessarily great wordsmiths—take Dostoyevsky or Dreiser, two of my favorites—nor are they always the smartest people in the room; but what they do have is the ability to translate deep feelings, subtle observations, and ideas into a story. To foster this, I create a supportive and intelligent class atmosphere and teach the class a little like a visual arts class. In addition to reading and discussing a wide variety of literary short fiction, we'll look at interviews of filmmakers, painters, and writers with an emphasis on self-exploration, broadening our influences, and feeding the imagination. I also ask students to share with the class some aspect of their own personal journey and interests outside of fiction writing. In the end, everyone will produce their own finished short stories and, just as importantly, write constructive, thoughtful, and thorough critiques of each other's work. This class is open to both the beginner and the advanced short-story writer.