{"product_id":"inherited-stories-fiction-writing-workshop-online-september-2026","title":"Inherited Stories: Building Fiction from Family History with Lacey Herbert Zoom Seminar on Sunday, September 13, 2026","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Sunday, September 13, 2026 Class will meet once via Zoom from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLive Seminar via Zoom from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e🌍 \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Times by Time Zone: \u003c\/strong\u003eLos Angeles (PDT): 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM \/ Chicago (CDT): 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM \/ New York (EDT): 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM \/ London (BST): 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM \/ Berlin (CEST): 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eNow Enrolling! Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInstructor Lacey Herbert is a television writer and producer, currently a co-producer on Amazon Prime's upcoming \u003cem\u003eReacher\u003c\/em\u003e spin-off, \u003cem\u003eNeagley\u003c\/em\u003e. Before that, she wrote for STARZ's NAACP Image Award-winning \u003cem\u003ePower Book II: Ghost\u003c\/em\u003e, where she became the go-to writer for high-stakes, mid-season finales — the kind that either kills your favorite character or flips everything you thought you knew upside down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eOriginally from Washington, DC, Lacey got her start in broadcast journalism at the University of Maryland. In a past life, she worked in unscripted TV, producing a show for HGTV and a handful of mini-documentaries on social justice and culture. Her writing explores family drama, identity, magical realism, and the thin lines of morality — especially as they shape and complicate the Black experience in America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eOutside of TV, her writing has appeared in\u003cem\u003e Civil Eats, Half and One\u003c\/em\u003e, and even in the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e, where she published a tiny love story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWhen she's not writing, she's probably on a plane with '70s funk playing in her headphones — looking for the best beach on Earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is this class for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis course is open to writers of all levels. Whether you are exploring personal history for the first time or you are an experienced writer looking to deepen characters, stakes, and intergenerational storytelling in your fiction, this one-day writing workshop will give you the tools and structure to transform inherited material into compelling narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to expect:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eFamily stories are often where our most powerful narratives begin — but how do we transform our history into compelling fiction without simply writing memoir? And how do we shape inherited lore into stories that resonate beyond our own circles?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this one-day online writing workshop, you will explore how to draw from family lore and oral history to create vivid, character-driven stories with emotional depth and momentum. Through guided exercises, discussion, and scene-building techniques, you will learn how to heighten your ideas, shape real-life material into structured fiction, and make thoughtful choices about what to keep, alter, or reimagine. The workshop examines questions of ethics, distance, and creative license while focusing on craft tools such as point of view, conflict, tension, and the central dramatic question.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eLed by television writer and producer Lacey Herbert — whose own pilot, inspired by her grandmother's lore, led directly to two TV writing jobs spanning six seasons — this workshop offers practical insight into how deeply personal material can be shaped into compelling, high-stakes narrative. You will leave with a clear story concept rooted in the histories that shaped you, along with a drafted opening and a concrete plan for developing the material into a short story, novel, or screenplay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the writing goals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this course, students will identify a compelling family-based story seed, clarify the dramatic question at the heart of that story, learn how to heighten the stakes without losing the emotional truth, and draft at least one scene. Students who are comfortable sharing their work will receive feedback from both the instructor and their peers. Even those who choose not to share writing will receive feedback on their story idea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReadings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eInstructor Lacey Herbert will share the opening scene of her pilot — a fictionalized version of her grandmother's real life story that directly led to two television writing jobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdditional recommended readings include:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAmy Tan, \u003cem\u003eThe Joy Luck Club\u003c\/em\u003e — a novel inspired by Tan's mother's stories about her life in China before immigrating to the U.S., and a powerful example of fiction rooted in family history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eGabriel García Márquez, \u003cem\u003eOne Hundred Years of Solitude \u003c\/em\u003e— inspired by Márquez's maternal grandparents' storytelling and Colombian history, expanded into a sweeping multi-generational narrative. Also available as a Netflix series with English subtitles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE OUTLINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eWelcome, rules \u0026amp; context — Brief intro of instructor's background; laying out expectations of respect for peer sharing; discussion on why ancestral material is powerful but tricky; the difference between memoir and historical fiction.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eFinding the dramatic engine — Introducing the concept of the central dramatic question, conflict vs. nostalgia, emotional truth vs. factual loyalty, and how to \"heighten\" real life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eExercise: Students boil down their concept to two sentences and answer: Who is the main character? What do they want? What happens if they don't get it?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGroup share! Feedback from both the instructor and the group.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMini lecture on heightening the stakes without betraying the truth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eExercise: Mapping out the lore and identifying where the gaps are in order to heighten the stakes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eScene drafting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGroup share and reflection (optional, but encouraged, scene share).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eMini lecture on ethical considerations and when to fictionalize heavily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eFinal exercise: Story roadmapping and identifying the central question of the story.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGroup share \u0026amp; reflection on the final exercise. Feedback from the instructor and positive feedback from peers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE TAKEAWAYS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eUnderstand the difference between memoir and fictional adaptation of real-life material\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBe able to identify and articulate the central dramatic question in an inherited or family story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLearn techniques for heightening stakes and building narrative tension from personal histories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLeave with a drafted scene or opening paragraph rooted in family lore\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eReceive instructor and positive peer feedback on both story ideas and drafted work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAYMENT OPTIONS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eTuition is $99 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInstructor: Lacey Herbert\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eSunday, September 13, 2026\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet once via Zoom from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $99 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cscribe-shadow id=\"crxjs-ext\" data-crx=\"okfkdaglfjjjfefdcppliegebpoegaii\" style=\"position: fixed; width: 0px; height: 0px; top: 0px; left: 0px; z-index: 2147483647; overflow: visible; visibility: visible;\"\u003e\u003c\/scribe-shadow\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48203510874360,"sku":null,"price":86.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/InheritedStoriesBuildingFictionfromFamilyHistorywithLaceyHerbert_1.png?v=1775569694","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/en-de\/products\/inherited-stories-fiction-writing-workshop-online-september-2026","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}