Spring Novel Generator Instructor: Elizabeth Santiago
Instructor Statement
"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.
Fall Novel Generator Instructor: Katherine Yeh
Instructor Statement
"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.