A Workshop on the Heart of Fiction
Level: All Levels
Imagine Toni Morrison’s Sula without Sula. Or Louise Erdrich’s The Round House without its young and complicated Joe Coutts. Or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah without Ifemelu. The best fiction centers around vibrant, complex characters who stay with a reader long after the story or novel ends.
Characterization is a central part of storytelling, but it is also the lens through which we can come to understand, and ultimately strengthen, the other craft elements at work in our stories, such as plot, conflict, voice, point of view, theme, and place. To shape our narratives, we need to consider crucial aspects of our characters, such as what they want, what they’ll do to get it, and how the consequences of their actions have a direct impact not just on the narrative trajectory, but also every element of a work of fiction.
In this workshop, we will provide feedback on the characters in participants’ works-in-progress, as well as strategize character-driven ways they might improve their stories overall. We will also look closely at short works of fiction by writers such as Alice Munro, Karen Russell, and Raymond Carver that will help deepen our understanding of what great characterization really is: the key to a story’s success.
+ SUBMIT After registering, participants are asked to submit a short story or novel excerpt of up to 2500 words that involves the main protagonist(s) by no later than 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22. Please take this deadline and word limit seriously as late submissions likely cannot be accepted, and excess words will be cut. Please note that these manuscripts will be distributed in advance via email to the other workshop participants. Please email the manuscript to hannah@mainewriters.org with the subject line: “TALTY WORKSHOP MSS.” Please use standard formatting (1” margins, double-spaced, 12 pt font), and Word docs (ideally) or PDFs only.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online, using the video meeting platform Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, July 29, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, MWPA’s Hannah Perry will offer a test session on Zoom. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the test session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Morgan Talty is a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation where he grew up. He received his BA in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and his MFA in fiction from Stonecoast’s low-residency program. Named one of Narrative’s “30 Below 30,” his story collection Night of the Living Rez is forthcoming from Tin House Books (2022). His work has appeared in The Georgia Review, Shenandoah, TriQuarterly, Narrative Magazine, LitHub, The Idaho Review, and elsewhere. A current Lit Event Fellow for Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance as well as a recent recipient of a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, Talty is a writing consultant and a college instructor who teaches courses in English, Creative Writing, and Native American Studies. He lives in Levant, Maine.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at hannah@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information. Please note that mail delivery to the MWPA office is currently experiencing extensive delays, so please email hannah@mainewriters.org first if you would like to register by mail.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on July 19 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION