About the Workshop

Whether you’re new to fiction or have been working at it for some time, there are concepts you must master to have your intention fully realized on the page in such a way that others will be engaged in reading your work. In this generative fiction workshop, writers will learn craft elements such as perspective, setting, propulsion, and characterization to imbue new or existing writing with electrifying life. We will spend time discussing craft elements through the lens of recently published fiction that showcase said elements. Then, through a series of writing prompts, you’ll be able to craft your own stories. The intention of the workshop is not only to strengthen your own writing but to aid in the development of your writing workshop peers’ work and to that end, you will share new and existing work with each other in a safe and supportive creative environment. For the last class, I’ll invite students to revise an existing story (could have been written earlier that week or from before the workshop) and we’ll explore key concepts of revision so that each seed you’ve planted during our week together will blossom long after our time together comes to an end.

About the Instructor

Cleyvis Natera is an award-winning author, essayist, and critic. Her debut novel, Neruda on the Park, was a New York Times Editor's Choice and was awarded a Silver Medal by the International Latino Book Awards for Best First Book of Fiction. Natera’s second novel is The Grand Paloma Resort. Natera has received awards, fellowships and artist residencies from the Vermont Studio Center, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, PEN America, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Hermitage Artist Retreat, among others.