Instructor: Luke Wortley

This is a workshop for those who wish to take the next step in their writing life or continue on a trajectory they began a long time ago. As such, this workshop is meant for writers of all types of fiction who are willing and eager to give and receive feedback on work at all its stages of polish. The writing workshop is a commitment to both your own work and the work of your peers. If you think it will be difficult to provide critiques/notes for two stories on a weekly basis, please do not register.

A few, high-level notes. These six Monday evenings (June 24 – July 29) will be guided by craft alone; personal taste and statements that are based on preference for genre have no place in the writing workshop. While critique is an intrinsic part of the writing workshop, this workshop will also focus on encouragement and community building. Writing is a lonely affair, and as much as it is a solitary act, it can also be incredible consolation to enter a room with other people who are attempting to do the exact same thing you are. This workshop is about so much more than getting a few notes from peers on your latest novel excerpt or short story; it’s about learning how to talk about writing and integrate it into your life. Other, tertiary topics that we’ll hit on include submission strategy and revision techniques. Lastly, if you’ve ever taken a writing workshop, or you’ve talked to someone who has, you’ve probably heard of the writer sitting quietly while their work is poked and prodded under the supervision of a professor of some sort. I personally don’t believe in the dreaded “cone of silence.” As much as these meetings will be rooted in facilitated discussion of craft, I also believe that authorial intent is important in order to maximize your discussion time with peers. I will also be providing reading recommendations, copies of stories, and writing prompts each session. If time allows, I will try to arrive early or stay late to have a brief conference with writers whose work is scheduled for that week.

Now, the nitty gritty. This workshop will be capped at ten (10) participants, with two writers submitting their work per week. The first session of workshop will be going over ground rules, some general discussion, reading, and a model workshop, complete with formatting guidelines for written critiques. Each submission must be made available to the group — via email as an attachment or handed out at workshop as a paper copy — at minimum one week in advance. For example, if you are scheduled to have your work reviewed on Monday, July 8, your work should be submitted on or before July 1. Given the fast pace, I encourage you to have a piece ready for workshop before the first session begins. This is a fiction workshop, and there are no restrictions on genre. You may submit one short story or a novel excerpt for your scheduled date. If you choose to submit a novel excerpt, please provide a 250-word description of relevant context. Each submission should be a minimum of 2,500 words and a maximum of 6,000 words. Each submission should be submitted in 12-point Cambria, Arial, or Times New Roman font, double-spaced. The author’s name must appear on the first page, along with the title. Documents should be paginated and maintain consistent, one-inch margins throughout. Please delineate paragraph breaks and dialogue using proper punctuation.

This workshop is an opportunity for you to grow as an individual and to enter into creative partnership with peers. I fully expect that everyone will be fully prepared for that challenge and will conduct themselves like professionals. If this workshop is for you, I can’t wait to see you on June 24.