Readers are flocking to interconnected novels, and it’s no wonder. In these book-length collections of interrelated short stories, each story can stand on its own individually but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Think Elizabeth Strout’s “Olive Kitteridge,” Louise Erdrich’s “Love Medicine,” Cristina Henríquez’s “The Book of Unknown Americans,” Jennifer Egan’s “A Visit from the Good Squad.”
Each chapter in a story cycle can be read as a complete short story in its most satisfying form. There is a narrative arc that comes to a natural close; the writing is lyrical and sharp; and the characters are crisp and three-dimensional. The points may be up for interpretation, but it’s clear that the writer has authority and a unique voice.
Are you that writer? Would you like to explore an event or theme through a cycle of interconnected short works? Do you have a character who demands space across multiple short stories? Would you like to learn how to develop a set of stories that work together as a multidimensional, textured book? If so, this workshop is for you!
Phaye Poliakoff-Chen leads this workshop. A teacher, writer, and former director of the Writing Program at Goucher College, Phaye leads lively and respectful discussions that illuminate craft, themes, and connections in the stories you create and share around the table each week. She’ll help you find and strengthen your narrative voice, bring a keen eye to your pieces and your workshopmates’, and unravel the secrets to creating a successful connected novel.
Phaye’s work has appeared in Tupelo Quarterly, Southern Exposure, and Frontiers, among other publications. Her collection of short fiction, The Art of Work, was published by Booktrope, and, says Phaye, “remains the most stolen book in the Kratz Library at Goucher College.”
These workshops happen LIVE on Zoom!!
Can’t make evenings? Phaye can work with you one-on-one at a mutually convenient time! Email or call us for info.