Do you have a true story to tell but don’t know where to start? New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother will break down the craft of telling true stories using fiction techniques into its basic building elements: characters, point of view, voice, setting, description, dialogue and plot.

By showing rather than telling a story, your scenes will come alive with action and emotion, but good research is also needed to add the factual details and verisimilitude that make the most compelling tales. Participants in this six-session workshop course will learn how to build scenes containing vivid imagery, poignant prose, and snappy dialogue, then practice the craft with trigger exercises designed to break down barriers that can block creativity.

Rother, a Pulitzer-nominated investigative journalist, will also discuss research and interviewing techniques as well as the narrative structure and organization of a short or book-length work. Students are encouraged to work on new scenes in class, but may also bring in work in progress to be workshopped.