This Event is for Members only.
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All registrants will have access to the class recording for one week.
“Today, first sentences and first paragraphs of any writing are increasingly important for arousing the restless reader,” wrote Francine Prose in “Reading Like a Writer.”
In this class, we’ll discuss the importance of openings in fiction, dissecting some of the most indelible first pages of fiction ever published and discussing strategies to write compelling first lines and sections that will capture the reader’s attention.
With the use of published examples of memorable first lines and paragraphs, we will understand how the best openings in fiction manage to excite the reader’s curiosity, introduce a setting and lend resonance to the story.
Students will have the opportunity to read in advance craft materials on the importance of first lines and examples of memorable openings in both short and long fiction. They will also have the opportunity to submit a writing sample for class discussion.
The Workshop
Deadline to submit a scene for consideration is Friday, February 19 at 5 pm CST.
Every registrant will have the chance to submit a scene for the workshop in the afternoon portion of the class. The instructor will choose 10 submissions to workshop in the afternoon. The class will receive the chosen scenes ahead of time so that everyone is on the same page. Everyone who registers will be allowed to ‘view’ and participate in the workshop, although they might not have their own work critiqued (again, only 10 will be chosen).
Submission Guidelines:
All submissions should be double-spaced, in 12 pt font, Times New Roman, and 3 pages max. Please follow standard margin guidelines and submit as a Word document.
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