The Mechanics of Powerful Prose in Novels and Memoir

Class Description

Strong writing requires creativity. Powerful writing requires a red pen. Making the reader want to turn the page requires knowing the tools that sharpen your prose.

All creative works of prose—fiction, essay, nonfiction, and memoir—benefit from knowing the underpinnings of robust writing. This workshop will use lecture and in-class writing to teach and illustrate:

• Techniques of sharp prose construction
• Making description unique
• Underpinnings of tension in prose
• How to write great dialogue
• Posing dramatic questions (and answering them)
• The power of first and last sentences
• Learning how to judge your work
• Concrete online tools to help sharpen your prose

Participants should be ready to begin class with the first page of a work in progress, a notebook, and a pen.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.