Class Description

If you want to write a novel but you don’t know how to begin, join us for How to Start a Novel. In this one-day workshop, you will discover the key questions you need to answer as you set out on your novel journey. We’ll talk about what you don’t need (an outline) and what you do need (a strong situation). You will learn how to determine if your idea is novel-worthy, how to frame your premise as a guiding question, and how to devise the engine that will keep your novel moving along, even when you don’t know where it’s going. We will also discuss the essential elements of a compelling first chapter and how to construct a working scene list that will inspire you through the challenging middle distance. At the end of the day, you will be ready to start your novel with confidence and clarity. Instructor bio: Michelle Richmond is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels and two story collections, including most recently The Wonder Test and The Marriage Pact, which has been published in 31 languages. She has taught in the MFA programs in Creative writing at the University of San Francisco, St. Mary’s College of Moraga, California College of the Arts, and elsewhere. A native of Alabama and a decades-long resident of the Bay Area, she is the recipient of the Grace Paley Prize for Fiction, the Truman Capote Prize, the Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize, and the Hall-Waters Prize for Significant Contributions to Southern Literature. Michelle writes about the intersection of travel and writing at WanderingWriter.Substack.com. She is the founder and publisher of Fiction Attic Press, which publishes flash fiction and serial novellas by new and established writers.

Cancelation Policy

Because class size is limited, refunds are not given unless we can fill your spot.

Contact Details

• info@litcampwriters.org