“The Art of Experimental Writing” with Mac Crane
March 21 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
$59.00 – $119.00
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This Event is for Members only.
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$59 for Members
$119 for Non-Members
PLEASE NOTE: This class recording is now only available for purchase by our members from now until Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT. The class recording will be made available to watch (and rewatch) until July 31, 2026. Become a member here.
There are infinite ways of telling a story, and we can explore those possibilities. We will play, we will delight in our work, and we will push ourselves to get weird with it.
In this class, we will focus on studying and writing experimental work that breaks boundaries, subverts (Western) literary conventions, and refuses genre.
We will do close readings of various experimental pieces, from re-imaginings to hermit crab pieces, from erasure pieces to experimental points of view. We will then examine how writers use unconventional forms to enhance the themes and narrative. This is a generative class, which will include discussions, writing prompts, and exercises. Open to writers with all levels of experience, students will leave with strategies for writing hybrid, genreless (or genre abundant!) work as well as the confidence to lean into play and experimentation in their writing.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
- You love the weird and beautiful.
- You are curious about alternative structures or ways of telling a story.
- You are writing a book or story that doesn’t use a conventional form.
- You feel limited by conventional storytelling expectations.
- You love to break rules.
- You want to learn how to approach unconventional forms, styles, narratives, etc.
The deadline to buy this class recording is Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT.
CONTINUING YOUR WRITING JOURNEY
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The WLT is committed to making our online classes accessible to all writers including writers who do not have the financial means to pay for programming. Five (5) seats in this class have been set aside for scholarship recipients to attend free of charge. Please fill out this application no later than 2 days prior to the class to be considered for one of the scholarship seats. We do not ask for any corroborating documents; we only ask that you help us understand your situation. If you are selected for one of the available seats you will be notified via email (from wlt@writersleague.org) no later than 24 hours before the start of the class. Please note, each writer is limited to no more than four (4) total scholarship seats per catalog season.
Instructor
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Mac Crane is a jock, sweatpants enthusiast, and the award-winning author of I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself (Catapult 2023), A Sharp Endless Need (Dial 2025), and the forthcoming short story collection, Perverts (July 2026). Their short work has appeared in Prairie Schooner, Passages North, Joyland, The Offing, No Tokens, The Florida Review, TriQuarterly, Lit Hub, Catapult, F(r)iction, and elsewhere. A recipient of fellowships from Vermont Studio Center, American Short Fiction, and the Sewanee Writers' Conference, they currently live in San Diego with their family.
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The Writers’ League of Texas is dedicated to providing harassment-free spaces for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Violating these rules may result in expulsion from WLT programs without a refund at the discretion of the WLT staff.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
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- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
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Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules during all events and event-related social activities.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reports can also be made via email at wlt@writersleague.org. We’ll handle any and all reports as respectfully as possible. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Accessibility Policy
Closed captioning is available for all online classes and special events.
The WLT is committed to making its programs & services accessible to all writers. Please contact us at wlt@writersleague.org or at 512-499-8914 for more information or to discuss accommodations you may need.
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All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.