Muse & the Marketplace 2019

Writers' "drawers" are filled with beginnings. But our great ideas often fizzle out before we reach the middle, much less the end, of a story or essay. What strategies can we use to follow through? Do we need to know how a story or essay will end in order for the writing process to be a success?

In this guided writing session, we will read examples of short pieces of prose that come to a satisfying conclusion, and use them as models for our own stories or essays, focusing on creating a "hook," building tension, and reaching a satisfying landing. You will leave the session with a draft of a complete work of short prose and ideas for prompts that encourage a sense of beginning, middle and end.