English CLAR. Advanced Fiction Workshop: How to Finish What You Start

Instructor: Laura van den Berg
Spring 2027
TBD | Location: TBD
Enrollment: Limited to 12 students

Have you ever written a draft of a short story or a novel, only to realize that you have no idea what to do next? This workshop will guide you through how to truly finish what you start on the page. We will explore how revision can be every bit as creative and exhilarating as getting the first draft down; experiment with different revision techniques; and learn how to move beyond the early draft stage. Students can expect to leave the semester with a polished short story or 30-40 novel pages; a deeper understanding of their own writing process; and a roadmap for how to navigate publishing. 

Supplemental Application Information: Please submit a brief letter of interest that discusses why you’re interested in taking this workshop—What is your current relationship to revision? Is there a particular project you’d like to finish?—and a 1-2 page writing sample. The sample can be from the project you’d like to work on in the workshop or from another work of fiction.