February 14, 2019
A few years ago I joined a local fiction-writers’ workshop here in Naples, FL, which has helped me immensely in getting my writing done. I have to turn in a new story every few weeks, and I prefer to treat that deadline as sacrosanct, to practice finishing work. In addition, the feedback is excellent, and I am forced to confront my own writing with more and more discerning eyes, working ever to improve. Both of these things have been beneficial.
But perhaps more interesting than how the workshop has helped my writing, a little more than a year ago, I talked with Kristine, the founder of the workshop, about expanding it. We discussed putting on readings, starting a podcast, developing paid seminars and workshops, providing a writing space for local writers, and even perhaps one day creating a literary magazine. A couple of those things have already come to fruition.
I thought I should mention those projects here on my own site. Please visit the Naples Writers’ Workshop website for more information.
I am one of the hosts of our podcast, which launched with its first episode on this first of this month. It’s called Why Is This Good?, and we discuss excellent fiction to try to glean lessons that can help inform the craft and artistry of our own fiction. The first time I discussed this idea with Kristine, I thought it would be a great podcast for aspiring writers or anyone who is interested in thinking about the art of fiction, and I think the results are proving that intuition to be true. The first episode is now available on Apple Podcasts and Google Play, and the next will be available tomorrow (the 15th). Please check it out.
Kristine and I are also running a Teen Fiction Workshop geared to high school students who are interested in writing fiction. The high school curriculum does not encourage fiction writing, and we hope to provide some modicum of encouragement for young writers. So far our students are really excellent writers with enormous potential, and I’m encouraged for the future of this workshop. A few issues have come up, but overall I’m pleased with what we’ve been able to do.
We’ve also been able to host a couple of fiction readings at local venues, and we’re planning for the next one. These have also been successful. You can see some pictures from the events at the workshop page I linked above.
Anyway, I thought I should mention some of the things I’ve been working on this past year other than incomplete drafts of Death and Life, which progresses in spurts now and then as I find moments to press forward with it. We were running a novel workshop which helped, but that was a project we were forced to reconsider. In the meantime, my daughters are getting more amazing every day, and I love being their daddy.