Week Two in Review

The Six-Week Workshop students started workshopping stories in Week Two. Their instructor, Brenda Peynado, ran the workshop like a writer’s room, asking them to identify the bivalve heart of the story before diving into the discussion. The collaborative structure of the writer’s room method made for a free-flowing conversation peppered with possibility.

Three of the students took to the stage to interview Brenda at the conclusion of her Tuesday reading at Hugo House. Brenda discussed the autobiographical nature of her short fiction, the logic of worldbuilding, and the role of hope and sadness in her work. She begins every story with one simple question: How will this break my character’s heart? Whether workshopping or lecturing, Brenda emphasized the importance of transformation, not only within the world of the story but outside of it. Her revise-from-scratch approach to developing stories offered the students space to think big and outside the box, a vital skill for the weeks ahead.

The Flash Fiction Groups have also moved into their first week of story submissions. Yvette Lisa Ndlovu (CW ’22) covered story openings this week, challenging participants to try three different openings for the same story and see what resonated.

In the Write-a-thon, we are up to 360 participants who are settling into their weekly groove, sharing their goals, and participating in free classes and meetups. It’s never too late to join the Write-a-thon! Click below to sponsor a writer or sign-up!