Narrative Voice & Setting: Inhabiting The Fictional World
Joseph Cassara
Fiction
May 7 to June 29, 2018
Open to All
Tiered Tuition
Reserve My Spot This offering is not currently available for registration. Please check back or email Jennifer Jean at jjean@fawc.org for any questions.
Fiction
May 7 to June 29, 2018
Open to All
Tiered Tuition
Reserve My Spot This offering is not currently available for registration. Please check back or email Jennifer Jean at jjean@fawc.org for any questions.
About the Offering
Engaging characters and settings have the potential to be the most memorable aspects in our fiction, staying in our readers’ mind long after they finish reading. In this workshop, we will examine a variety approaches to hone our voice and build believable and captivating worlds. We will look at examples of contemporary literary fiction to see how writers create characters that not only sound real, but are compelling and unforgettable. We will study how dialogue works to advance plot, create tension, demonstrate power dynamics, and reveal things about characters and the places they come from. Our ultimate goal is to learn how to bring words to life and convey meaning that will have lasting power in our reader’s mind.
The course will mix instruction with readings from authors like Annie Proulx, Justin Torres, Junot Diaz, Toni Morrison, Grace Paley, Nam Le, Sherman Alexie, and ZZ Packer. Each week you will have a writing exercise to help you develop your craft. You will submit a short story or stand-alone novel excerpt, and are expected to read and critique the work of your peers.
Materials Needed
No specific materials needed for this offering.
About the Instructor/Moderator
Joseph Cassara is the author of the critically acclaimed novel The House of Impossible Beauties (Ecco), which was selected by Barnes & Noble as a Discover Great New Writers selection for Spring 2018. He holds degrees from Columbia University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and was a writing fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center. He currently lives in Fresno, where he is an Assistant Professor of English at the California State University.
Accessibility Information
Their work is regularly exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collections of over 60 museums. Over the past fifteen years, they have built a sustainable career as a visual artist and have extensive experience working with museums, galleries, universities and nonprofit organizations, publishers, and press outlets. In addition to their own creative work, they are passionate about sharing the professional knowledge they’ve acquired throughout their career with other artists.
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