The Cornerstones of Fiction

Have you ever wondered what principles all stories share? Or how you can use story essentials to make your writing come alive? In this 60-minute class, we'll dive into the fundamentals of storytelling: Plot, Character, Setting, and Theme. Through fun writing exercises, you’ll develop
narrative skills you can use to make your writing sing.

We'll also examine stories by JustinTorres, George Saunders, Carmen Maria Machado, Venita Blackburn, Peter Kispert, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and others. At the end of the six weeks, you'll have a better
understanding of what makes characters complex, plots satisfying, settings feel real, and how authors steep their stories in theme. But mostly, we'll have fun exploring how these principles are used to make great fiction. This class is intended for writers of all levels, from folks just
starting to put pen to page, to experienced writers looking to recharge their creative batteries.

Ready to turn your personal story into poetry? Join us for a lively and welcoming six-week workshop where we'll be blurring the lines between diary and verse, drawing inspiration from poets like Ariana Reines, Hera Lindsay Bird, Diane Seuss, and Ocean Vuong.

Through in-class readings, discussions and generative writing exercises, we’ll explore different ways of capturing our day-to-day relationships, desires, and fears on the page—embracing radical vulnerability and the art of the weird shower thought.

Whether you're new to poetry or looking to refine your voice, this is your space to experiment, express, and make your words shine.

Class meets for six weeks. Sign up for whole series here: https://sfwriting.institute/course/the-cornerstones-of-fiction