Oakhill Prison Humanities Project
Fiction Writing Workshop
Correspondence Course 2021
Instructors: Ron Kuka, Christopher Chambers, Emma Binder, Gabriel Louis
Each week we will focus on one element of fiction writing. Participants will receive a short essay on the craft of writing, a sample story to read, and a related writing exercise. They will return their writing exercise each week to an instructor and will receive feedback the following week.
Week 1: Introductions
Getting started
On the habit of writing and reading as a writer
Week 2: Observation and the Senses
On sensory details and description
Week 3: Persona and POV
On authorial persona and narrative point-of-view
Week 4: Characters and Setting
On creating convincing characters and settings
Week 5: Story Structure
On conflict and resolution, beginnings and endings
Week 6: Scene and Exposition
On showing, telling, and dialogue (direct and indirect)
Week 7: Experience and Imagination
On writing from life and reading as a writer
Week 8: Time
On revision and publishing