by Writing Workshops Staff
3 days ago
Few writers can unearth the extraordinary from the seemingly ordinary with the precision and heart that Robin Gaby Fisher brings to her work. A two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and a veteran journalist with a career spanning decades, Fisher’s words have captured both the grit and grace of humanity—turning real lives into unforgettable stories. From her acclaimed series on survivors of the Seton Hall arson fire to her latest hit Unmasked, with famed cold-case investigator Paul Holes, Fisher has proven that storytelling, when done right, feels like magic.
But as Fisher herself says, the magic of storytelling isn’t magic at all. It’s craft. It’s empathy. It’s learning how to listen deeply, trust your voice, and bring real people to life on the page.
In her upcoming six-week class, Storytelling Magic for Nonfiction Writers, Fisher invites aspiring and seasoned writers alike to discover what makes a story sing. With her guidance, participants will explore the building blocks of compelling nonfiction: how to ask questions that matter, develop rich characters, craft cinematic scenes, and sharpen their words until they hit like a punchline. Grounded in texts like Stephen King’s On Writing and Joan Didion’s Year of Magical Thinking, the course promises to strip away the fear of the blank page and replace it with the confidence to write stories that demand to be read.
Fisher’s pedigree as both a storyteller and teacher sets this workshop apart. Formerly the director of the journalism program at Rutgers University, she has spent years honing her gift for nurturing authentic voices. Now writing full-time from her Vermont home, Fisher offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the best in the business.
Whether you’re driven by a story that keeps you up at night or you’re simply ready to dig deeper into your craft, this course will leave you with sharpened skills, newfound courage, and the ability to turn real life into narrative gold.
Robin Gaby Fisher doesn’t just teach you how to tell stories—she teaches you how to feel them, and in doing so, how to make your readers feel them, too. That, after all, is where the magic lies.
Hi Robin, Please introduce yourself to our audience.
Hi all! The only thing I love more than writing is teaching. And digging deep into people's stories.
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
Everyone has a story and everyone wants to be heard. I think many of us like to use our talent to tell ordinary people extraordinary stories. They're everywhere! But you have to know how to find them and then how to dig deep enough to tell those stories with authority and with heart.
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
We'll start with learning a lost art: how to communicate with others; then move on the techniques for writing your. most compelling stories.
What was your first literary crush?
Hemingway. Simple words that convey a wealth of meaning.
What are you currently reading?
I just started "The Barn" by Wright Thomas. Compelling.
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
I love telling people's stories. I know it is "the story" I want to write once I've had a chance to talk to the subject.
Where do you find inspiration?
In people.
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
Keep it authentic. Go to great pains to get it right. Never sacrifice your integrity. A great story is a great story. No need to embellish!
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
Stephen King's "On Writing. A Memoir of the Craft." He's the master.
Bonus question: What’s your teaching vibe?
Friendly
