Time is everything in fiction: Whether you write linear or nonlinear narrative, the way time is structured in your work shapes everything from character to plot to setting to reader reception. Exploring the work of writers like Aimee Bender, Venita Blackburn and George Saunders, this six-week writing workshop will examine how authors use time to shape their narratives and will show how you, too, can weave the past, present, and future together in your fiction.
These weekly sessions with Thomas Grattan will be a mixture of craft discussions, close readings, writing exercises, and workshops, which will include detailed feedback on character development, prose, voice, plot structure, and the use of time in each participant’s writing.
This class is suitable for writers of all experience levels; however, participants should submit a draft of a short story or a novel chapter that can be workshopped.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO TAKE AWAY:
CRAFT EXERCISES & TECHNIQUES ON HOW TO REPRESENT & STRUCTURE TIME IN YOUR FICTION
PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK ON WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR WORK
A READING LIST OF AUTHORS WHO MASTER TIME IN FICTION
A REVISION ROADMAP FOR YOUR WRITING PROJECT
ABOUT THOMAS GRATTAN
Thomas Grattan’s novel In Tongues was longlisted for the 2024 Joyce Carol Oates Prize and named one of the Best Books of 2024 by The New Yorker and Glamour. His previous book, The Recent East, was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and was longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award.
ABOUT THE ROUGH NOTES CRAFT TALKS
Named after Kinderhook’s 19th century broadsheet, The Rough Notes series, created by Kinderhook Books, is a collection of classes, workshops, and events designed by writers, for writers.
COST: $450 ($425 for those who register before June 15)
This is a six-week in-person writing workshop, which will take place at Kinderhook Books from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13, August 20, and 27.
You can register at Eventbrite. If you would like to circumvent the Eventbrite fees, however, you can register by phone (518.217.2192) or inside the shop (10 Broad Street, Kinderhook).