Narrative Writing Class: Follow the Story (Winter 2025)

Follow the Story: Winter Creative Writing Class

Follow the Story will explore the genres of fiction and nonfiction. The eight-week course will introduce you to a wonderfully diverse mix of writing–personal essays, memoirs, profiles, travel stories, short light pieces and short stories. What are the “rules” and conventions of each genre? How can you use genre to deepen and enrich your own work? How can genre help you hit all the right notes in your writing? You’ll also learn essential techniques of narrative writing–dramatic scenes, dialogue, characterizations and scene by scene construction. The class will teach you how to tell a great story in the following way:

• Write a 150-word  story idea.
• Write a 250-word dramatic scene.
•  250-word genre exercise.
• Write a draft of 1500- to 2500-word story or book chapter.
• Revise the draft in the light of my comments and those of workshop.
• Complete publication report to identify the appropriate publishing home for your story or book, greatly enhancing your chance of publication.

In addition to the classroom work, I’ll schedule individual conferences with each of you. This will give me a chance to go over your story or book chapter with you one-on-one and suggest ways to improve it. There will be six assignments: a 150-word story idea or book concept statement, a 250-word scene, a 250-word genre exercise, a 1500- to 2500-word story or book chapter and its revision, a publication report for your story or book. Text: Follow the Story by James Stewart available at the Elliott Bay Book Company and online.

The course will run on Wednesday evenings Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29,  Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. PST via Zoom and with a hybrid in person option.

To enroll, send a check for $725 to Nick O’Connell, 201 Newell St., Seattle, WA 98109 or you can pay via Venmo or PayPal below.  The course is limited to 15 participants and usually fills several weeks prior to the start of class. For more information, see my website, www.thewritersworkshop.net or contact me at nick@thewritersworkshop.net or call 206-284-7121.