Writer-In-Residence Program

Denman Island Readers & Writers Festival

A Workshop For Writers Of Narrative

Please note: this event is sold out.

Instructor: Jack Hodgins, Writer-In-Residence

Topic: Techniques useful to the writer of fiction (most of which are useful to the writer of narrative nonfiction as well) *

Class Limit: 10

Time: three mornings 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Friday (July 18), Saturday (July 19) and Sunday (July 20)

Where: Denman Island Arts Centre

Please Bring: pen, notebook/paper, a favourite book on writing (if you have one), and a recent piece of your own fiction (or other narrative) of anywhere between 5 an 20 pages.

Please expect:

  1. • to bring (the first day) a sample of your writing for the rest of us to hear or read and discuss (If you bring enough copies for everyone you will be a hero, but you are not required to be a hero.)

  2. • to talk about work submitted by others

  3. • to be respectfully silent while we talk about yours (ask questions later)

  4. • to participate in writing exercises

  5. • to ask the questions that are important to you

  6. •  to talk about successful techniques you have noticed in writing you have admired

  7. • to tell others something of why a favourite book on writing is worth reading

  8. • to experiment with techniques we discuss

  9. • to benefit from the instructor’s experience when you ask the right questions

Some topics to be discussed:

  1. • How do we recognize a story worth telling?

  2. • What makes a good story?

  3. • How important is place?

  4. • How do we capture characters?

  5. • What makes a good opening passage?

  6. • When should we write summary narrative, when exposition, and when scenes?

  7. • What makes a successful scene?

  8. • What makes for good believable dialogue?

  9. • How important is plot?

  10. • Do we need to concern ourselves with theme?

  11. • What is involved in rewriting?

  12. • What happens to my piece of writing if I submit it to an editor or publisher?

  13. *fiction: novels, novellas, short stories, short-shorts, tales, tall-tales...

  14. *nonfiction narratives: biographies, memoirs, histories...