Four Tuesdays: October 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET Online
Great mystery novelists rely on suspense to keep readers hooked—and so do memoirists, journalists, YA authors, and every other genre. Building suspense is a foundational tool of writing craft. In this hands-on workshop, we'll learn and hone practical techniques for creating tension in prose. We'll talk about pacing, the difference between drama and suspense, and how to increase pressure. We'll draw inspiration from canonized masters like Patricia Highsmith as well as unexpected examples like Etgar Keret and Claire Keegan. We'll do writing exercises and share them in class. Participants will also have the opportunity to submit a short piece of writing, and Kate will choose 2-3 for a feedback workshop (note, Kate won't be able to give feedback to all submissions). All levels are welcome, and the class will be genre-agnostic.
Four Tuesdays: October 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET Online
Required Books:
PDFs of required reading samples will be provided to students before the first class.
Kate Reed Petty's first novel, "True Story," was a New York Times Editors' Choice selection and was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award and a Shirley Jackson Award and was long-listed for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. Her short fiction has appeared in ZYZZYVA, Electric Literature, and elsewhere, and her short films have screened at the Maryland Film Festival and won an award in Narrative Magazine. Kate is also the author of the graphic novel, "The Leak" (2021). She teaches writing at the School of Visual Arts, and lives in Baltimore.
REFUND POLICY: Please note that we can issue class refunds up until seven (7) days before the first class session.