Fall 2022 Course Details

How do you turn an idea, or an essay, or a collection of essays into a book?  In this workshop we will demystify the art of writing a book-length manuscript and begin a narrative nonfiction project’s journey from short-form to long-form. How do you develop multiple themes? Multiple characters? How do you structure a complicated narrative? How do you organize a collection of essays? We will study the art of crafting a book proposal, the essential first step towards publishing a lengthy nonfiction narrative. Because often books evolve from an essay or an article, we will explore pitching to and publishing in magazines and journals as well as Random House. A series of guest speakers, ranging from authors to agents to editors, will provide advice and insights. Readings include successful book proposals as well as narrative nonfiction books that can serve as models. Students must arrive at the first class with a topic developed enough to begin this adventure. This course is especially helpful to students immersed in writing, or are preparing to write, their thesis manuscripts. All forms of creative nonfiction are embraced.