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Writing Historical Fiction 6-Week Online Workshop, Starts Monday, June 12th, 2023
$395.00

Writing Historical Fiction 6-Week Online Workshop, Starts Monday, June 12th, 2023

Begins Monday, June 12th, 2023

Now Enrolling!

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

Taught by Jenny Bhatt, whose debut story collection, EACH OF US KILLERS, made The Millions' Most Anticipated Debuts, Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Debuts, KIRKUS, & Electric Literature's Most Anticipated Debuts in 2020. Jenny's story, "Return to India," will appear in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. You can read Jenny's latest short story at Electric Literature, recommended and introduced by Elizabeth McCracken.

History texts tell us what happened when. Historical fiction shows us what it was like by immersing readers into the period so we can not only relive those experiences but gain a more nuanced and contemporary understanding of them.

In this six-week workshop, we’ll explore and discuss:

1) The whys and wherefores of different kinds of historical fiction
2) Researching facts and details and weaving them into fictional possibilities with responsibility
3) Worldbuilding
4) Forms of storytelling in historical fiction
5) Craft elements like language, dialogue, setting, character, POV, and more

This is a reading- and writing-intensive workshop. It is best suited to writers who've already begun their historical fiction projects and have, ideally, at least a first draft well underway or completed. Students will read excerpts and practice writing historical fiction through a variety of exercises with peer critiques. Optional resource links and materials will also be provided.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
  • At the end of this workshop, participants will have a strategy for the kind of historical fiction they’d like to write.
  • An appreciation for the ethics of writing about real people.
  • An understanding of the do’s and don’ts of research.
  • A practical toolbox of specific craft elements important for historical fiction.
PRAISE FOR JENNY BHATT:

"I've greatly enjoyed this class. Thank you all for sharing your stories with me and taking the time to listen to mine. I've learned and was entertained by diving into each diverse world. I wish you only good things going forward and hope to see you again in another workshop and/or your book on a shelf. Thank you, Jenny, for expanding my knowledge in historical fiction and writing in general. The material and your feedback is shaping me into a stronger writer. I'm glad my first writing workshop was under your facilitation and look forward to your Magical Realism class come August!" - Jessica O.

"I found everything valuable in this course. Especially the articles explaining different elements of historical fiction as well as the exercises and the feedback." -Chaitali S.

"I really enjoyed the historical fiction workshop! It helped to motivate me and also connected me to other writers. Thank you Jenny, and thank you for all your great feedback!" -D.R.

"Jenny's thoughtful assignments and her excellent feedback were truly so valuable. Also, the small class size allowed for deeper engagement and a very personalized experience." Melissa M.

"This class exceeded my expectations. The generative aspects of the class, as well as the lessons and the comments from Jenny and the other students on my work were so valuable. Jenny is very thorough and expert at teaching about all aspects of Historical Fiction Writing. Great examples of other historical fictions as well." -Vimi B

"I loved this class, especially the examples that were given. They helped me a lot." -Marsha R.

"I found Jenny's direct feedback and engagement so valuable. Her content is very interesting and useful, and there was no shortage of extra reading suggestions. Highly recommend." - Susan M.

"I found Jenny’s comments and the introductory materials for each week so valuable." - Cristina S.

"Jenny was the best part of the course (and I would definitely recommend taking courses with her). Her feedback and also suggestions for reading (both fiction and about craft) were excellent. I learned so much from her lessons, the weekly readings, and also from her responses to the weekly assignments." -Katie F.

"I give Jenny's class five out of five starts. The class exceeded my expectations, and in just six weeks, I learned how to structure a historical fiction novel. Jenny's coverage was detailed and extensive. Highly recommend." -Jean P.

"Jenny provided the class with excellent instruction and resources throughout. I found the critiques to be especially valuable." -Vonda E.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:


Wet Ink, our dedicated online classroom, was designed specifically for writing classes. It is a private, easy to use, and highly interactive online platform. Learn more about it from this class demo.

The class is entirely asynchronous which means that there are no set meeting times and students work to their own schedules. Participants will be from different time zones, which allows for a wonderful diversity of voices. In addition to ongoing discussions, all craft materials, lectures, reading assignments, and writing prompts will be available in the Wet Ink classroom. Students will also post work and provide and receive feedback within the online environment.


PAYMENT OPTIONS:
You can pay for the course in full or use Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

  • Instructor: Jenny Bhatt

  • Class size limited to 10 writers

  • Workshop starts June 12, 2023

  • Course is fully ONLINE; students can work according to their own schedule within weekly deadlines. Once you have enrolled the instructor will send you a link to our online classroom, provided via Wet Ink.

Instructor Jenny Bhatt is a writer, literary translator, book reviewer, and the host of the Desi Books podcast. Her debut story collection, Each of Us Killers, was published by 7.13 Books in 2020. Her literary translation from Gujarati to English, Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu, was published in 2020 by HarperCollins India. Her fiction has won Pushcart Prize and Best American Short Stories nominations and reached the finalist stage for the 2017 Best of the Net Anthology. One of her stories will be included in the Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories 2021. Her non-fiction has appeared in, among others: The Atlantic, NPR, The Washington Post, BBC Culture, Literary Hub, Longreads, Poets & Writers, Electric Literature. Having lived and worked her way around India, England, Germany, Scotland, and various parts of the US, she now lives in the Dallas, Texas suburbs.