The opening of a story or a novel is a promise to the reader. From the first sentence, a writer teaches a reader how to read:

• What is the tone?
• How will the internal logic of the story be revealed?
• Is there urgency to the piece?
• Does the writer have authority and control over the material and the voice?
• What is the narrative distance and is it consistent?

In this two-part craft writing series led by Jennifer Gilmore, Associate Professor of English at Lafayette College, we will look at openings that uphold their promises to the reader and those that are less successful in captivating the reader’s imagination. How do writers find their way into their material? Through reading, writing, and discussion we’ll investigate the notion of starting. Writers will generate and rethink their own beginnings as they consider the elements of craft that will help sustain their work as they continue to write.

• Craft Class 1 (July 27): Elements of Craft:

We will read two or three short pieces before class and use these to begin to discuss issues of craft:

• Why has the writer chosen a certain point of view?
• What is the setting? The tone?
• When do we use dialogue and when do we use exposition?
• How has the writer arrived at this voice?
• What are we promising the reader in our beginnings?

We also will of course look at endings as we have to see how that promise has been (or perhaps has not been) fulfilled.

In this craft class we will also talk about practice:

• how we work
• what is our process
• how we not only begin but sustain a writing practice

• Craft Class 2 (October 15): Beginning:

We will reflect on the previous class and bring in our own beginnings. These will be read and discussed/critiqued in class. There will be three additional generative prompts for developing:

• Character
• Narrative
• Audience and perspective.

We will workshop some of these, discussing what is most successful and using respectful critique to offer feedback. 

For adult writers of all levels.

Registration required.

NOTE: Please download attachments (when available) for suggested readings ahead of class.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact David Davis, Coordinator of Adult Services, at davidd@eastonpl.org.

Writing prompt for Class 2:

About the instructor:

Jennifer Gilmore, Associate Professor of English at Lafayette College, holds a Master’s in Fine Arts from Cornell University and has taught at Harvard (where she received a Teaching Excellence Award), Princeton, Cornell, and New York Universities. Her novels (Golden Country; Something Red; The Mothers; If Only; We Were Never Here) have garnered many accolades such as a Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; New York Times Editor’s Choice; New York Times Notable Book; and Kirkus Review Best Young Adult Books of the Year. She has also published essays, short fiction, and critiques in The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Vogue, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times.

To read more about Jennifer Gilmore:

• Lafayette College profile
• Jennifer Gilmore website

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library

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