Writing Outside of Your Lane: Novel Writing Workshop - Remote!

Class Description

This workshop-focused course is for novelists who want to put more diversity in their stories in the most mindful and empathetic way they can. Over the course, each student will get at least two 50-minute, non-silencing, novel-in-progress-style workshops, in which they can read aloud up to 16 double-spaced pages. Fellow students will then work together to assist the workshopee in reflecting on their given marginalized character’s representation, brainstorm any potential roadblocks, or help think through specific questions or concerns the workshopee may have. Each class will also start with a writing lesson and/or exercise related to mindfulness in craft, as well as group discussion of the book we’ll be reading together as homework: PET by Akwaeke Emezi.

This course is for novelists who have workshop experience, are acquainted with matters of craft, and who have already made some progress on a first draft.

Disclaimer: Please note that these workshops will NOT be sensitivity reads, even if a character’s identity resonates with the instructor’s (or particular students’) own identities. (Individuals who have a given identity are welcome to provide their thoughts during workshops, but this will be neither expected nor guaranteed.) Instead, these workshops are meant to guide students through their own preconceived notions and potential red flags in order to encourage their own innate mindfulness when writing outside of their lane. Workshopping is not meant to prescriptively fix a novel, but rather teach a life skill.

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.