“Borrowing from Other Genres” with Erika T. Wurth

$49 for Members
$109 for Non-Members

All registrants will have access to the class recording for one week.

What better way to hone your craft than to explore the best of other genres?

Whether you’re writing realism, literary fiction, science-fiction or fantasy, speculative or a thriller, it’s important to know how to imaginatively build the world your characters will inhabit. This class will teach you to take the best from each genre, and use those conventions, or skill sets, in yours. We’ll discuss what writers do best in different genres, what you can take away from each, and how this applies to language, form, structure and characterization. In the thriller, structure is king, and there’s much to be said for looking at a tried-and-true form. In science-fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction, the imagination that goes into building imaginary worlds is something to take away. In realism or post-modern fiction, because these have been the literary forms, writers in these genres are often masters at dialogue, inner-monologue, complex characterization, deviation from the formula in terms of form, and attention to language. We’ll look at examples from each, so that you’ll be able to to take the strengths of every genre to what you’re working on.

• You’re writing fiction in any genre.
• You find it difficult to finish a piece.
• You’re interested in exploring the craft techniques that go into writing specific genres.

Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Classes page.

Online registration will close at 5 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, November 4. If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click here for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it. If you prefer this option, please email wlt@writersleague.org with a copy of the form as well. We are working out of our office at this time.

Once a purchase has been made, tickets are not refundable and registration cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a ticket and then find you cannot attend, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know so that we can update the class roster.

HOW WLT CLASSES WORK:

Our classes offer a combination of lecture and practical exercises, determined by the individual instructor, on focused aspects of the craft and business of writing. Your fellow participants will come from a range of writing experience, from beginners to people with MFA degrees and published books. WLT instructors, participants, and administrators all work together to create a welcoming, supportive environment.

If you haven’t taken a class with us in recent years, feel free to email WLT Program Director Sam Babiak at sam@writersleague.org if you’d like to discuss whether our programming is the right fit for your needs.

HOW ONLINE CLASSES WORK:

Once you register for the class, you’ll receive an email with detailed instructions. You should expect 2-2.5 hours of direct teaching and 30 minutes of Q&A (for three hours total). If you need to leave the class early or can’t attend the class on that date, all registrants will have access to the recording for one week after the class date. No microphone or camera required, just an Internet connection capable of streaming video. All online classes are hosted on Zoom. To learn more about how Zoom works, click HERE.

A couple of days before the class, you will receive an email with login information. Plan to log in to the online platform several hours before the class so that you can update your computer’s Flash or any other settings required to access the platform. (Updates usually take only a few minutes, but you don’t want to wait until the beginning of class.) Questions? Email us at member@writersleague.org.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.

This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

This project is supported in part by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. For more information, go to www.maaa.org.