Novel Generator (Mixed Genre) Instructors (Spring & Fall)
Instructor Statement – Spring Novel Generator
"Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison once said, 'Make up a story. Narrative is radical, creating us at the very moment it is being created.' Writing for me is re-creation and liberation. It’s also a lot of work! It’s the kind of work that nourishes and confounds. At best it makes you feel flow and you become lost in your characters and the challenges they are navigating. At worst it makes you question yourself and the validity of your stories. This is why working in community with others and having champions through your writing process is vital. Your stories do matter, and they need to be told. My greatest strength as a teacher and facilitator is my deep desire to see others succeed and achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. Along with that, I present and push in areas of craft like building a story structure and shape as a foundation to grow your work, focusing on character, characterization, setting, dialogue, and pacing, and getting much needed feedback on your approach and process. We’ll explore and learn together as we support each other in an inclusive environment that welcomes all stories and storytellers."
About the Instructor
I have been a storyteller for almost as long as I have been alive! I read voraciously as a child but had always been struck by the stories that weren't being told. Stories about my ancestors, my community, and my neighborhood. I set out early to tell those stories. I earned a BFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College then a master’s in education from Harvard University. I taught writing and literacy courses for many years before I decided to take my passion for storytelling to the next level. I completed a PhD program at Lesley University focused on creative writing for literacy acquisition and liberation.
As a result of that work, two projects emerged. One is a contemporary young adult novel titled, The Moonlit Vine, featuring 14-year-old Taína, descended from a long line of Taíno women who must rise within her own strength to bring peace and justice to her family and her community. The novel was published by Lee and Low and has gotten starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. It was named one of their Best Teen & YA Novels of 2023 About Social Issues by Kirkus. Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 selected The Moonlit Vine as one of the titles to be honored on the Rise 2024 Booklist and the book has been longlisted for a 2024 Massachusetts Book Award. The second project is a website called The Untold Narratives to support all writers, emerging and experienced, in finding and sharing stories that are not typically told due to marginalization. Please visit the site and learn more about the novel and the website here.
Instructor Statement – Fall Novel Generator
"Writing is building: a story, a relationship, an emotional response, curiosity, freedom. It takes effort and perseverance. At times it’s messy and lonely, and then there are times when it’s beautiful and fulfilling. The process might take a while (maybe even years!), but you can take steps to ensure your success along the way and at the end. Taking a writing class is more than just receiving feedback on your work (though a critical part of it). It’s also meeting other writers who understand what you’re trying to do, learning from people who are different from you, and deepening your knowledge together on craft such as characterization, point of view, pacing, worldbuilding, and story structure to build out your writer’s toolkit. Students in a writing class inspire each other to keep writing and the teacher gives you the space and tools to do so. Together we’re building a shared writing community to write our way to success."
About the Instructor
A Taiwanese American writer of speculative fiction ranging from flash to novel length. Katherine's stories have been published in GASHER Journal, Flora Fiction, Blind Corner, and others. She has an MFA from Emerson College.
All New – Genre Generator Instructors
Instructor Statement – Young Adult Novel Generator
"Stories are the most powerful magic on this planet! Stories can create and destroy, uplift and tear down. This makes the responsibility of the writer a sacred one, and so the journey we take to create each of our stories becomes epic, life-changing — it forges us into the writers we need to be to finish the book. But that process can also be fun, and though we often feel alone in it, the truth is, writing is a community artform. We never create in a vacuum. What I love about this generator is that it is a lived embodiment of that truth. The great Ms. Toni Morrison said, "We don't need any more writers as solitary heroes," calling instead for "a heroic writers movement." One way we answer her call is by creating a beloved, challenging, uplifting community in which to undertake the epic journey of novel writing.
As a teacher, I believe in doing the hard, intentional work of making the classroom into a safe space, particularly for people who haven't historically felt welcome in creative writing settings. Within this framework, we are free to explore, play, challenge, create, and grow. I love getting into the nuts and bolts of fiction and exploring the parts that have no easy answers, no maps, no quick fixes. I learn so much from students and I'm so excited to learn from you."
About the Instructor
Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for Star Wars: The High Republic, is the New York Times bestselling author of many comics and twenty books, including the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, which was named one of the best fantasy books of all time by TIME Magazine and one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for numerous others.
Instructor Statement – Romance Novel Generator
"It took me over 234,000 words and three romance novels before I truly learned how to trust my intuition in order to write the most Asian AF book I could. And now I want to help writers get to their own authentic zone more quickly than I did. Writing is as much a craft as it is trusting your intuition, but we don’t need to go through that process alone. My writing and teaching philosophy holds inclusivity as a core value, especially in creating characters, worldbuilding, and my favorite, writing intimacy. I learn from my students as much as they do from me. Likewise, I want students to come with open hearts and minds so they can learn from their classmates’ different backgrounds and experiences. I find joy in seeing writers’ eyes sparkle with a big Aha! moment, whether it’s about their manuscript or creating a sustainable writing practice."
About the Instructor
Thien-Kim Lam is a queer writer who tells stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, doodles in her sketchbook, and and binge watches crime dramas. Her debut book Happy Endings was a Washington Post Romance Novel of the Year. Her Mardi Gras romance Full Exposure is a love letter to her Vietnamese community in Louisiana. Full Exposure is her Asian AF Broadway bound showmance.
Thien-Kim is a book coach for queer writers and writers of colors. She is also an EDSE certified sex educator who helps people embrace their Courageous Pleasure and teaches workshops on writing intimacy with a focus on inclusivity. Thien-Kim has taught workshops at Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute, Writing the Other, and multiple romance writing organizations. She’s been featured on Writer’s Digest, Bustle, Entertainment Weekly, and Oprah Daily. You can learn more about her on her website.
Instructor Statement – Mystery/Thriller Novel Generator
"As a mystery and thriller writer, I’m drawn to questions that breathe life into the work. The right questions can create blind corners or red herrings that ramp up the action and create a heart-pounding story that’s difficult to put down. In this class, we’ll dedicate our time to highlighting and improving the business of question-making.
This class requires a certain level of openness and an elevated level of humility and curiosity. Together, we’ll contemplate the “what ifs” of worldbuilding and broader story building. Over the course of several months, we’ll discuss craft-level questions, key mystery and thriller tropes, and useful revision techniques. Above all, this is a rare opportunity to join a writing cohort dedicated to indulging your imaginative curiosity and sharpening your craft."
About the Instructor
Camille Cabrera is an American bestselling mystery novelist. Her novels have reached the #1 spot on Amazon charts over 25 times. Cabrera’s books range from cozy mystery to noir. Cabrera’s works have also appeared in publications including Harvard Medical School’s medical humanities magazine, In Vivo. The Los Angeles native swears most stories have the opportunity to traverse two unique roads: “what if” and “it depends.” Indulging in curiosity allows Cabrera to push the boundaries of conventional tropes. She’s published over 10 novels – including Our Perfect Murder, The Mystery of Mistletoe Motel, and Below the Water – while also warmly embracing the challenges that so often come with playing in one of the most popular literary genres. When perfecting a new concept, she often asserts, it depends.