Novel beginnings

JULY 13-JULY 27, 6-9:00 PM, GLEACHER CENTER

Getting your novel off the ground in chapter 1 can be a daunting task. First chapters are often revised again and again. In Novel Beginnings, we'll first look at some excellent opening chapters and discuss why they work. What's left out? What's essential to hook the reader? Within a few days after the first session, students will turn in ten to fifteen pages of their first novel chapters. The instructor will return critiques one week before the second session. Students will integrate those comments and edits, and bring the revision to the second session. Revised first chapters will be shared and discussed in the second session.

POINT OF VIEW: TURN IT AROUND

AUGUST 15-SEPTEMBER 5, 6-8:30 PM, GLEACHER CENTER

In this course, students will draft a story from two or more points of view to explore how point-of-view shifts can open a story, revealing new insights and possibilities. We'll define the different points of view (first, second, third, omniscient, and others) and read stories written from each. Students will learn how to define, articulate, and justify their point-of-view choices while reinventing and revealing their stories through a different lens. Students can work on fiction or nonfiction stories they've already written or create new stories based on in-class exercises.

Submission strategies

Northwestern Summer Writer’s Conference

August 15, 9:30-11:00 am, Weiboldt Hall

In this workshop, we'll look at listservs and websites that will help you to organize your work and strategize submissions. We'll review Duotrope, Submittable, and other submissions-organizing sites that make the regular, organized sending out of your fiction, nonfiction, or poetry 100 times easier. Some time will also be devoted to agent searches, and the best practices for targeting your market. Register Today