Class Starts Wednesday, February 19th, 2025

Class will meet weekly via Zoom (Wednesday, 6:00PM - 8:30PM Central). 

Note: We will skip the week of March 19th.

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us. 

Led by Antonio Ruiz-Camacho, a National Magazine Award finalist. His debut story collection Barefoot Dogs won the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction, and was named a Best Book by Kirkus Reviews, San Francisco Chronicle, Texas Observer and PRI's The World. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, Texas Monthly, The Millions, and elsewhere. A former Knight Journalism fellow at Stanford University and a Dobie Paisano fellow in fiction by the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Institute of Letters, he earned his MFA from The New Writers Project at UT Austin.

Read an interview with Antonio on Writing Linked Narratives.

The best linked story collections and novels-in-stories are more than the sum of their parts. In this seminar for intermediate and advanced writers, we will go behind the scenes and learn how interconnected narratives operate. 

This six part seminar/workshop will discuss linked story collections and novels-in-stories. In each session, we will discuss a different book and analyze specific aspects of the craft using it as an example, all while observing and dissecting how linked collections and novels-in-stories are built and how the differ from conventional works of fiction.

Each session will also feature a workshop component. In the last session, we will have a wrap-up discussion about interconnected narratives using a first-person account from an author who wrote and published a linked story collection.

We will read work that includes novels and story collection, such as Jesus' Son, Brownsville, Crooked Hallelujah, The People Who Report More Stress, A Visit From the Goon Squad, Homegoing, This Is How You Lose Her, Winesburg, Ohio, Barefoot Dogs, and Olive Kitteridge.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• How craft elements like setting, characterization, plot, language, voice and perspective can contribute to the creation of linked narratives.
• How to revise your own work from the perspective of interconnected narratives.
• Read and discuss classic and contemporary examples of interconnected narratives and learn how to apply their insights into your own work.

COURSE OUTLINE: 

• Session 1: Intro to class; discussion of place & plot in "Olive Kitteridge"
• Session 2: Voice & perspective in "Jesus' Son"
• Session 3: Character & conflict in "A Visit from the Goon Squad"
• Session 4: Language & description in "Homegoing"
• Session 5: Dialogue & detail in "Winesburg, Ohio"
• Session 6: Wrap-up discussion: How I wrote & published "Barefoot Dogs"

Note: All class participants will receive feedback from the instructor either in a workshop session or in a letter. Writers who do not want to present their pieces in a workshop setting but still want feedback on their drafts can opt out of the workshop and receive a letter from Antonio instead.

WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?

• Writers Interested in Linked Narratives: Those who want to explore and understand the craft behind interconnected story collections and novels-in-stories.
• Writers Looking to Revise and Connect Their Work: Writers who aim to revise their own work with a focus on creating interconnected narratives.
• Writers Who Want to Enhance Their Craft Skills: Perfect for writers looking to deepen their understanding of how elements like setting, voice, and perspective contribute to linked narratives.
  
• Writers Who Want to Publish: Individuals looking to gain insights from a firsthand account of writing and publishing a linked story collection.

PRAISE FOR ANTONIO: 

"The How to Conceive & Structure Personal Essays seminar with Antonio Ruiz Camacho exceeded my expectations. Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to expect because it was my first class with you all, but Antonio's class was so interesting and informative! He covered everything and more about personal essays in his presentation and focused on details and provided great examples in the assigned readings. So far, I'm very impressed with Writing Workshops!" -former student

"Antonio is a great instructor. I signed up for How to Conceive and Structure Personal Essays and it did not disappoint. He very clearly made the point about the details in the narrative expressing the experience. His example readings were great. For a short course, it was excellent." -former student

"How to Conceive & Structure Personal Essays with Antonio Ruiz-Camacho exceeded my expectations. I am currently working on putting together a collection of personal essays that I hope to be published either in book form, or as individual submissions to various print magazines and e-zines. Most valuable #1: I enjoyed the personal essays that were assigned for aloud reading (and I really enjoy reading "out loud" as we used to call it when I was a child). Those assigned essays served as appropriate examples of the gist of Camacho's presentation. Most valuable #2: I particularly found Camacho's explanation of what makes a personal essay unique exactly the motivation I need to want to write personal essays in the first place. Mr. Camacho spoke of intimacy, confession, vulnerability. I think I did say that I was toying with the idea of naming my collection Very Personal, Personal Essays. Mr. Camacho covered what I need to know as a novice when it comes to conception and structure of the personal essay, and I can always conduct independent research as it relates to crafting significant personal essays of my own, moving forward." -former student

"Everything about this seminar with Antonio was great. He was very organized and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend." -former student

"Antonio's expert advice on framing and structuring personal essays will make my writing more engaging and impactful, unlocking a new level of creativity for me." -former student

"Antonio Ruiz-Camacho's seminar on personal essays was transformative. His insights into combining journalistic methods with narrative storytelling will help me turn my life experiences into compelling essays. The detailed guidance on structure and fact-checking was invaluable, making this class an essential resource for any aspiring essayist." -former student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class is fully online and will meet via Zoom

• Antonio Ruiz-Camacho | Live via Zoom
• Class Starts Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
• Note: We will skip the week of March 19th.
• Class will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, 6:00PM - 8:30PM Central
  
• Tuition is $395.