WE ARE NOW SIGNING UP FOR THE JANUARY and MAY 2018 CLASSES.
Since my last class, Contemporary Dark Fiction, has done so well, I thought I’d launch a second class, an Advanced Creative Writing Workshop. How is this class different? Well, there will be less focus on craft, and teaching you the basics, and more time spent reading and writing. It’s essentially what I did when I got my MFA back in 2012.
What I loved in my MFA was reading contemporary short fiction to see what was going on, what was being published, and what was getting attention. I can’t think of a better way to do that than to read these three anthologies: The Best American Short Stories, The Best Horror of the Year, and The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. This is a great way to stay up to date, to research current markets, study with the masters, and find new voices. In my MFA we only focused on literary fiction (BASS), so adding in Best Horror and Best SF&F will really help you to expand your voice and learn from those genres as well. (If we publish a Best of Gamut in 2018, we may swap that out, down the road, for one of these titles.)
With class sizes small, a maximum of eight students, these will probably fill up quickly.
More information below.
OVERVIEW:
Each week, you will read two stories that I have curated from the three aforementioned anthologies, selecting the stories that I think are the most powerful, unique, and with the most to teach us. There will also be a weekly Skype call (2 hours), where we will talk about that week’s short stories, and what the authors did well, how they are innovative, and how you might apply that to your own writing. We will also workshop two of YOUR stories, applying the same level of critical analysis. (Two student stories per week, with each student workshopping a total of FOUR stories, overall.) We will have additional ongoing questions and conversations on Facebook (in a private, secret group). At the end of the month, you will turn in an original short story based on whatever inspired you over the course of our studies, up to 5,000 words. I will read, edit, and critique each story, and return it to you with advice on what to do next (keep editing, drop it, polish it up, send it out). In addition to commenting on each other’s work (workshopping) the stories in Skype, you will also read and give feedback on the other short stories in the class via email (and the Word docs). At the end of the semester you will get one hour of private Skype time with me to talk about anything you like—your work in class, other projects, the industry in general, markets, query letters, how to get an agent, what to do next, etc. (Note: You will have to come to class with ONE short story already written. You will write THREE in class, not turning in a story in the final month.)
WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR:
(This is not a class for beginning students or authors, unless you already have some study and experience. We will not teach the basics, but will already assume you understand that, and are looking to study contemporary masters, apply it to your own work, and then create new material on a monthly basis.)
TESTIMONIALS:
“I would definitely recommend this class to a friend—in fact, I’ve already recommended it to several. This course has changed me. I’ve taken quite a few classes, workshops, and retreats, but none of them has had the effect on me that this one has. I see writing through a different lens now. It’s as though I’ve gone through a battle and come out a seasoned soldier. I’m more confident, more aware, more educated than I was before.”
—Brenda T.
“This workshop offers a great balance of reading the masters, critiquing and being critiqued, and time for writing new material. Just having completed the workshop, I’ve already received a few comments from beta readers that the depth of my characters and attention to setting have improved. Richard is an expert at designing workshops, and he’s very responsive to individual questions throughout the 16 weeks. In addition to being incredibly knowledgeable about the craft and the business side, he’s a fun and engaging person to learn from. At least based on the workshop I took, he draws some of the best emerging writers to his courses. Far from a chore, critiquing the other writers’ manuscripts work was a pleasure. Richard and the other writers offered creative, smart ideas for improving each of my manuscripts. Not only that, Richard is open to giving feedback on more than one draft of the same manuscript. I highly recommend the workshop. It’s a terrific experience.”—Matt F.
“Richard’s Advanced Creative Writing Workshop is perhaps the best writing course I have ever been in, and I’ve completed a 3 year Creative Writing degree with a Man Booker Prize long-listed author! The 16 weeks of the course will provide you with the same level of insight, depth and challenge as an MA degree, exploring celebrated contemporary writers alongside the work of your fellow students. The literature covered here is broad in terms of genre: from The Best American Short Stories, Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Best Horror anthologies, so there’s a huge amount to be learned from these genres and apply to your own work in interesting ways. Quite apart from the astonishing insights and editing you’ll receive from your fellows, you also get a chance to receive feedback from Richard, who is an incredible teacher in terms of his insight into storytelling, his attentiveness, and his willingness to allow you to blossom as your own writer, rather than forcing you into a prescriptive model as so many big name authors do. I can honestly say that I’ve found my voice as a writer from going on this course and it’s already lead to two professional sales and a competition win with a cash prize. If you want to step up your game, take this course. You seriously won’t regret it.”—Joseph S.
“This class is the logical next step for authors on the cusp of breaking out. If you’ve already published a few pieces and want to take your writing to the next level, this is the class for you. Richard forces you to read more, write more, and critique more while interacting with like-minded writers who want to improve their game. Highly recommended!”—Repo K.
“Richard is passionate about helping you become a better writer, and that translates into a class environment that is supportive, irreverent, and creates lasting relationships with cool new people with similar goals. And it will kick your writing up several notches.”—Kris M.
“Richard’s Advanced Creative Writing Workshop moves beyond the basics of the short form, looking at how components come together to form a polished work. He utilizes the Best of the Year anthologies to look at not only what’s been published, but what has stood out that year, and why. Using these same techniques, you break down your own work highlighting what works, and what doesn’t. Richard’s honesty paired with his supportive nature is invaluable during this process. He encourages you to reach beyond the comfortable, and you can always trust he’ll be there to guide you if you misstep. The in-depth analysis and encouragement really makes for a fantastic experience. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to move beyond short story basics. “—Shaw C.
“Taking this class was the best writing decision I made in a long time. I’ve been writing short stories seriously for years but was drowning in the waters of editing my stories to near death. This class was the kick in the ass I needed to get me out of my creative slump. With Richard and my amazing classmates, we broke down the best short stories of 2016, going beyond the mechanics of storytelling or craft and looking at all level of a stories effectiveness and impact. We built those stories back up examining what made them work (or sometimes not work). We did the same with our own fiction examining each other’s stories each week and looking at how we could apply the lessons we’d learned to our own work. With Richard’s guidance’s our class was an enthusiastic, supportive and fun environment that I already miss participating in each week. Richard will take the talent, craft and skills you already have and challenge you to rise to the next level. If you’re thinking about taking this class, I’d advise you to stop thinking about it and go for it, you won’t regret it.”—Brandon P.
COST/FINANCING:
$800, via Paypal to [email protected]. $100 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. If you are a returning student (from ANY of my classes, anywhere) take 10% off. If you pay in FULL at the time of deposit, take an additional 10% off. Otherwise, it’s $100 upon registration, $350 before class starts, and the balance of $350 due prior to the start of the second month. You are required to purchase the three anthologies (or feel free to check them out at your local library) for extended discussion. (Additional payment options are available, if needed.)
Returning student + paid in full: $640 ($40 a week)
Returning student, not paid in full: $720 ($100 down + $310/$310; $45 a week)
Paid in full, not returning student: $720 ($45 a week)
Not returning student, not paid in full: $800 ($100 down + $350/$350; $50 a week)
Drop me a note at [email protected] to register, to request a full syllabus, or if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Richard
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