 |
AUTOFICTION WORKSHOP #1 : Exploring Hybrid Writing START DATE: Sunday, October 11, 2020 END DATE: Sunday, November 15, 2020 DURATION: 6 weeks LOCATION: Zoom and email for assignments FEEDBACK: Instructor feedback and critique COURSE DESCRIPTION: What is autofiction? It’s not memoir, fiction or personal essay, but might have elements of all three. Auto-fiction is a genre for writers who want to write about their experiences and personal insights without being held back by the “facts.” Autofiction allows writers to pen personal experience without the constraints of traditional autobiography. In this course, we will explore some of the techniques of writers who have reconstructed events from their own lives using methods borrowed from other genres to create new forms. There will be weekly readings that we will use to discuss different elements of craft in terms of narrative, structure, genre, tone, narrator, character and theme. We will also have a weekly writing exercise based on the reading as well as group and instructor workshopping of participant work. WEEKS AT A GLANCE: WEEK 1: Getting to the Emotional Truth of the Story Forget the facts and focus on your core message. Reading by Alexander Chee. Complete at least one writing exercise of 1,000 words. Post for peer feedback. WEEK 2: Set Your Protagonist Free Complete at least one writing exercise of no more than 1,000 words. Post for feedback. Readings from Chris Kraus. WEEK 3: Draw from Your Own Experience Complete at least one writing exercise of no more than 1,000 words. Post for feedback. Readings from Juliet Escoria. WEEK 4: Shut up so others can speak. Complete at least one writing exercise of no more than 1,000 words. Post for feedback. Reading from Scott McClanahan. WEEK 5: Pictures, Objects, Sensory Prompts Complete at least one writing exercise of no more than 1,000 words. Post for feedback. Reading from Karl Ove Knausgaard. WEEK 6: Sights, Smells, and Other Sensory Memories. Complete at least one writing exercise of no more than 1,000 words. Post for feedback. Reading from Sandra Cisneros. COST: Email me about my special summer rates. NEW: AUTOFICTION #2: WORKSHOPPING HYBRID WRITING Requirement: Participants must have completed Autofiction 1, which explores techniques and forms borrowed from memoir and fiction. This course is for those who want to progress with their own autofiction manuscript (novella, book length or short story collection) with a focus on three aspects:
This course is for participants who wish to share and workshop their work as a group (not only with the instructor). Instead of a survey of authors and forms as we did in Autofiction 1, we will read from two or three authors—Rachel Cusk, Bruno Schultz, and Sheila Heti—and focus on individual participant work with group and instructor feedback. Each week a different participant will be workshopped (depending on number of participants). Each week up to 1,000 words can be sent in for group and instructor critique. Week 1: Creating characters (mini lesson). Short reading. Workshopping participant work Week 2: Plot development (mini lesson). Short reading. Workshopping participant work Week 3: The balance between exposition and dialogue (mini lesson). Short reading. Workshopping participant work Week 4: Dialogue (mini lesson). Short reading. Workshopping participant work Week 5: Style (mini lesson). Short reading. Workshopping participant work Week 6: Review techniques. Workshopping participant work mini lesson. Short reading. Testimonials "This autofiction class kept me writing, thinking, analyzing, and enjoying not only what autofiction is but Melanie Faith
Nominated for three Pushcart Prizes
"Thank you for this class and for your very valuable feedback on the two drafts I sent you. Your class rekindled the fire that I felt was beginning to fizzle out in my writing." ~ Clare Hart "Thanks for a great class! I’m so glad I signed up—turns out that I still have a brain and you made me use it. :) I appreciate your advice as well as the thought-provoking lessons you provided . . . In that short amount of time I feel more confident going forward with my writing . . . I wish you the very best, and thank you again for sharing your knowledge! "~ Andrea H. "Gila Green’s class was my first online writing class. I was impressed with the quality of the material Gila provided and her weekly lessons were clear and easy to understand. She also provided enough flexibility in her lessons to tailor the class to the individual needs of her students. I always felt open to ask questions or linger over lessons and critiques that I felt I needed more time to comprehend and work through. I look forward to learning from her again. "~ Donna Kortes "Gila had a very straightforward way of explaining by giving examples in our own work, and pinpointing a subject for clarity. She was very encouraging and her critiques were always thoughtful and constructive. She pushed me to dig deeper and work harder and I believe it shows in my writing. If I am ever fortunate enough to make it in this business, I will definitely name Gila as one of the reasons for my success." ~ Barbara Florenza |
