Reading Like a Writer: Studying Craft in Madeline Miller's Song of Achilles (with Kate Senecal) - ONLINE
There are two key things every writer needs to do to create masterful work: sit down at the writing desk with regularity and read, read, read, and read some more. There is no better teacher than the published prose we know and love; and in this course we'll spend four weeks learning about the craft of fiction writing through reading Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles together. Miller masterfully demonstrates an efficient but complex, emotionally rich, character-driven plot structure by re-envisioning a familiar tale from a unique perspective. As a group, participants will read the book over the course of 4 weeks. Each class meeting will feature discussion of how Miller works with all of the fundamental elements of storytelling, and how we can learn from them as writers; generative writing exercises related to the reading, and optional verbal sharing of work participants do in-class with on the spot, positive feedback. This class does not feature formal or written feedback, and is more deeply focused on craft analysis and discussion. Together we'll geek out, build community, get some writing done and learn new things about writing and each other. Required: All participants must have a copy of the book and are expected to begin reading before the first class. Limited to 10 writers.
WHEN: 4 Weeks: Wednesdays, December 2 - 23 (6 - 8pm EST)
WHERE: Online, via Zoom video conference
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
KATE SENECAL is the assistant director of Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop, the former fiction editor of Storychord, a fiction instructor for Writers for Recovery, a Grub Street writing instructor, and a professor at Umass Amherst. She has received an honorable mention in Glimmer Train’s 2019 Short Fiction Contest and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2016. She holds an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Kate’s fiction has been published in The Laurel Review, The Foundling Review, and in Storychord.com.
ONLINE SESSIONS happen remotely, via Zoom video conference. All you need is a laptop, computer, or phone with functioning audio and a webcam. Those who RSVP receive directions and a link to "join" the session via email (please see above note about receiving the Zoom link). All online instructors will log on to the video conference 10 minutes before the start of the session, to help anyone with technical issues, so please plan to log on early if you'd like assistance! We'll do everything in our power to help you get comfortable with this new format, though when the session begins, we will not be able to assist with technical difficulties.
RECEIVING THE ZOOM LINK: For one-day workshops, we send out the link to attend the Zoom session 1 - 2 days before the event, via email. For multi-week workshops, you should receive info and the link about a week before the first meeting. Please mark your calendars and look for our emails. If you don't see the email in your inbox on the day before the event (or a few days before, in the case of multi-week workshops), please check your spam and junk mail folders (and search all folders) for an email from joy@pioneervalleywriters.org. We have found that very often our emails end up in those folders. This is based on your own email settings, and you can prevent this by adding our email as a contact.
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES AT PVWW
Because of non-refundable fees that we, PVWW, must pay for every transaction that happens, we are not able to give full refunds to those who register then withdraw from a workshop or class. If you withdraw from a workshop ten days or more before the start of the class: You'll receive full credit toward another workshop or class of equal value OR a refund minus 10%. If you withdraw from a workshop nine days before the start of the class up until 48 hours before: You'll receive full credit toward another class OR a refund minus 30%. If you withdraw from a workshop less than 48 hours before the start of class or after the class has begun: We are not able to offer you credit toward another class or a partial refund, unless in the case of a medical emergency. If we have to cancel a class for any reason, you will receive a full refund, or if you choose, a credit in the amount of your payment, to be used for any future PVWW class. Anyone who does not specify whether they would like a refund or a credit for a cancelled class within 3 months will automatically receive credit and will no longer be eligible for a refund. In the event of an emergency, we may consider a refund, in partial or in full. We handle these requests on a case-by-case basis. You must make your request within the given season in which the class transpired. Credits cannot be converted into refunds. Please contact Joy (joy@pioneervalleywriters.org) for all matters concerning credit and refunds.