Scene by Scene:
A Novel Writing Workshop with Sara Kocek
Tuesday Evenings 7:00-9:00 PM
(Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18, Feb. 25, and March 4)
$375 per student ($25 off for WLT and SCBWI members)
Writing a novel is an exhilarating and intimidating process with ups, downs, and everything in between. This 6-week workshop offers intermediate-level writers the opportunity to gather in a creative, supportive environment and learn the basics of plot, structure, description, character, dialogue, creating conflict, and more. The class will include “off the page exercises” to help solidify characters, strengthen dialogue, and get everyone’s creative juices flowing. And we will critique your work-in-progress in a constructive, encouraging manner that will help keep you moving towards the finish line. Whether you’re still contemplating what to write about or are already knee-deep in a draft, this workshop is an excellent choice for any writer confronting the challenge of a long work.
Who should attend?
- Writers of literary fiction or genre fiction (including mystery, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, YA, middle grade)
- Writers getting ready to embark on a new novel
- Writers struggling to finish the first draft of a novel
- Writers whose finished novels are not gaining traction with literary agents
- NaNoWriMo writers who want to revise their novel draft
Note: This class is by invitation or submission only. To apply, Please send email with a 5-10 page sample of your fiction (double-spaced). Space is limited, and spots will be awarded on the basis of literary merit.
Sara Kocek is the founder of Yellow Bird Editors and the author of the young adult novel Promise Me Something (Albert Whitman Teen, 2013). She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University, where she taught fiction and poetry to undergraduates. Prior to pursuing her MFA, Sara graduated with a B.A. in English from Yale University, where she worked as a Writing Fellow, tutoring undergraduate and graduate students in academic and creative writing. A former full-time editorial intern at Random House and Penguin, she now lives in Austin, Texas, where she worked recently as the Program Director for the Writers’ League of Texas. In addition to 5+ years of experience teaching and editing fiction, Sara has 7+ years of experience with college essay coaching for high school students.