In this two-day intensive, we’ll look at the openings of novels, both published works and the writer’s own in progress, to see what they say to the reader about the experience of what’s ahead. How do you hook a reader as well as teach them the way to read your book without giving it all away or not giving enough? How do you use what you know about what happens later to inform where a reader begins?

Week one will consist of discussing excerpts of published work, looking closely at how authors use voice, pacing, characters, and other tools of craft to give just the right amount of intimations of what’s ahead for the reader. In our examinations, we’ll also consider what isn’t yet revealed, and the plethora of choices a writer has at their disposal for the novel overall; looking at a book’s beginning necessitates talking about the structure of the project as a whole, and this will be part of our work. In the second week of the intensive, we’ll look at how to apply what we’ve observed to our own work in workshop of pages-in-progress.

Writers are expected to have 20-30 pages of a novel opening to share with the group, and to read multiple excerpts of this length, both from their peers and of published work. For workshop I’ll give detailed instructions for a lighter, more focused, and ideally useful method of feedback to best serve this task. Writers will work in small groups.

About the instructor

Danielle Lazarin is the author of the short story collection BACK TALK. Her fiction and essays have been published by places such as The Southern Review, Colorado Review, Glimmer Train, The Cut, Catapult’s Don’t Write Alone, and Literary Hub, amongst others. A graduate of Oberlin College’s creative writing program, she received her MFA from the University of Michigan. Her work has been honored by the New York Foundation for the Arts, Hopwood Awards, Millay Colony for the Arts, and The Freya Project. She lives and works in New York.

Testimonials

“Having worked with Danielle for several years both in her classes and one-on-one, I cannot recommend her highly enough as both a teacher and coach. She brings a deep engagement in her own writing life to meet you exactly where you are with empathy, generosity and incisive, practical, results-oriented guidance. She is a master teacher. Working with Danielle has changed my writing life.”

“Being Danielle's student really jump-started my personal writing process. Her unique insights are both focused and holistic; it's her advice for the journey that helps you get to the destination you want. As a teacher, she's earned my trust.”

“Danielle Lazarin is an insightful teacher whose pragmatic and empathetic approach to the practice of writing resonates for both new and more experienced writers. Working with Danielle I found writing muscles I didn’t know I had, and a fresh perspective on how letting the mind find its way to new ideas and getting out of one’s own way may be two of the most powerful tools in the writer’s toolbox.”

Crafting Your Novel's Opening, 2 sessions with Danielle Lazarin