“Writing Beyond What You Know” with Richard Santos

February 29, 2020 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST

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This Event is for Members only.
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This class is part of the “Fill That Blank Page” Class Package. To purchase the discounted class package, click here.

Feeling constrained by the phrase “Write what you know?”

Do the people in your life keep telling you to write a book? Do you want to share your story, or your parent’s or grandparent’s, but don’t know if it should be fiction or nonfiction? Many people want to leave behind a record of their lives, whether that’s a memoir, a story about their ancestors, or a fictional tale rooted in truth. But a compelling life doesn’t magically become a compelling book.

This class will review the common pitfalls of autobiographical writing. How do you know what to include? How do you know what to cut? Why isn’t it enough to tell an interesting story? And what happens once I finish the thing?

This is not quite a class for memoir writers—although it will discuss memoir best practices. And this isn’t quite a novel writing workshop—although it will look at examples of successful autobiographical novels.

This is a class for writers learning how to shape their own knowledge and experiences into a well-written book. Participants will explore their writing goals, undertake generative writing exercises, and make a plan for their future work.

TAKE THIS CLASS IF

You’ve heard the phrase “Write what you know” and feel constrained by it.
You’re not sure about the line between memoir and autobiographical fiction.
You want to learn how to use your own personal story as the launch pad for fiction.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS INSTRUCTOR

“Richard’s class was very informative and detail oriented.”
“Clearly presented with great examples. Accessible for questions.

Instructor

: Richard Z. Santos has a degree in English and History from UT Austin, an MA in English from Georgetown University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Texas State University. He taught nearly every English class and elective from grades 8-12 and most of the Social Studies courses. Trust Me, his debut novel, was published by Arte Público Press. In a previous career, he worked for some of the nation’s top political campaigns, consulting firms, and labor unions.

Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Classes page.

If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click here for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it. If you prefer this option, please email wlt@writersleague.org with a copy of the form as well to ensure we add you to the class roster as soon as possible.

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Class & Event Registration Policy

Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.

Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy

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.

HOW WLT CLASSES WORK:

Our classes offer a combination of lecture and practical exercises, determined by the individual instructor, on focused aspects of the craft and business of writing. Your fellow participants will come from a range of writing experience, from beginners to people with MFA degrees and published books. WLT instructors, participants, and administrators all work together to create a welcoming, supportive environment.

If you haven’t taken a class with us in recent years, feel free to email the WLT staff at wlt@writersleague.org if you’d like to discuss whether our programming is the right fit for your needs.

HOW ONLINE CLASSES WORK:

Once you register for the class, you’ll receive an email with detailed instructions no later than 48 hours before the class date. You should expect 2-2.5 hours of direct teaching and 30 minutes of Q&A (for three hours total). If you need to leave the class early or can’t attend the class on that date, all registrants will have access to the recording for one month after the class date. No microphone or camera required, just an Internet connection capable of streaming video. All online classes are hosted on Zoom. To learn more about how Zoom works, click HERE.

Plan to log in to the online platform an hour before the class so that you can update your software or any other settings required to access the platform. (Updates usually only take a few minutes, but you don’t want to wait until the beginning of class.) Questions? Email us at wlt@writersleague.org.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

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.

This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

This project is supported in part by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. For more information, go to www.maaa.org.

Details

Date:: February 29, 2020
Time:: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST
Event Categories:: Class, In-Person Class

Venue

: St. Edward’s University
: 3001 S. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704 United States + Google Map