Crafting Fiction

Course Description:

This is a course for writers who wish to energize their work habits and their stories. Students will develop manuscripts that they have brought to Fernie, and do a few writing exercises that come out of the group discussions. These exercises are small but mighty. They hone a writer’s skills, and get you thinking about stories in a whole new way. We will talk about building characters, themes, and obsessions. We will discuss the use of detail in fiction and learn how to open a story up. And we will talk about how to craft fiction out of facts and experience.

Students are asked to bring manuscripts to class: novels-in-progress or short fiction. Some of the key words to describe this class might be: creating great writing habits, grabbing lists, and the secret lives of great writers. The goal of this class is to learn how to read your own work objectively and--ultimately--how to make your fiction believable and striking.

Suggested Reading:

It is recommended that participants read Roberto Bolano’s Last Evenings on Earth (Harvill Secker 2007) prior to attending the session. This book of short stories is a great introduction to Bolano’s work and an excellent pathway to discuss the reasons for writing fiction.

Course Preparation:

We request that participants submit an excerpt of one manuscript they wish to work on during this session one month prior to the start date. These excerpts will be distributed to all participants and the instructor in advance of the Conference. Submission details will be provided in your registration package.

Course Cost: *
Registration before April 30^th: $775
Registration after April 30^th: $875
* includes admission to all Conference events, readings and panel discussions