"Here
it is, Monday, and I'm still in a daze. So much to think
about. It's shocking to see one's bad habits hung out like
laundry. But it'll feel good to jettison them. You
helped me see that my novel is a story about a family and the
secrets that shape it. I've got to create the voice with
distance, wisdom, and heart to tell it. I'm going over
class notes — there's a lot to mull over. When I
began your class, I thought I'd purchased a more expensive version
of the
workshops friends have been recommending for years. I was
in shock that first day ... You guys aren't in the warm
bath business, that's for sure. I'll never look at a book
the same way. Please keep me updated on your classes. In
a year or two I'd like to do another.
— Susan Nunes
"Thanks
for an incredible week. I think I learned all I need
to know to write a really good novel."
— Pam
Carroll
"Thank
you so much for a wonderful and enlightening week! Our
discussions and critiques have not only clarified the various
elements of fiction for me, they have raised the standard of
quality.... God bless you both for creating such an engaging
learning experience. Please let me know when you put
it all into a book."
— Ted
Olson
"The instruction and
feedback I've gotten from you and Tom has been enormously valuable
in terms of (a) shedding light on areas of craft that I've
been otherwise oblivious to or unclear about, (b) teaching
me to be a better reader, and (c) helping me understand, not
only what needs work in a story but what needs work in my writing
in general. You've provided a `wide angle' view that
I haven't gotten before, which is enabling me to work in new,
more interesting, challenging, productive ways. Your
constructive criticism and encouragement have been great."
— Kira
Peterson
"Wanted
to thank you and Carol again for a fine and warm and moving
time in San Francisco. My craft and my soul are better
for it."
— Craig
Bueltel
"Thank
you again for the combination of sharp intellect and compassion
that both you and Carol brought to the workshop. It was
an incredible experience, and I feel like the lessons I learned
will help my writing for a long time to come. As an ex-teacher
I have usually been very critical of other teachers. I
have very high standards for anyone who stands in front of
a class (but no higher than I set for myself). You and
Carol exceeded those standards. It was a pleasure to
be part of the class and I look forward to next year."
— Peter
Grandbois
"At the end of this week
I feel this way about my writing: five years ago, when I started,
I walked into a room and saw a small toolbox on the floor. I
opened it and have spent the time since using and playing with
the few tools inside it. Now, you and Tom have tapped
me on the shoulder and told me to look up. The walls
of the room are lined with tools and I never saw then. I
still have to learn to use them, of course, but just the sight
of them makes me feel limitless. So, thank you both. That's
a hell of a gift."
— Shawn
Behlen
"I must thank you both for the workshop. Already,
the revisions to my novel show me that I have found the beginnings
of that 'next level' I sought. I have thrown out passages
and sections of the existing manuscript and written new, more
dramatic pieces. Thanks to your passionate love of good
writing, I am finding the opportunities in my own work. Thanks
for a workshop beyond value."
— Xu
Xi, author
of Chinese Walls, Daughters of Hui, and Unwalled
City, published in Hong Kong by Chameleon Press
"Thank you for weaving together an extraordinary experience
and for sharing so much. Fabulously helpful!"
— Reed Fawell
"I just
wanted to let the both of you know that I got accepted into
the MFA program at Arizona State ... Had I not come out to
San Francisco for the workshop, I'm quite sure I would have
given
up on my writing and found myself studying law right now. Thanks
for everything."
— Michael
Croley
"Thank
you for a wonderful eight weeks. Superb inspiration and
instruction. It was a privilege to be in your class. I
look forward to the next one."
— Brenda
Foster
"I love the class. I've
never had these kinds of questions asked about characters,
etc., and despite hitting a wall for the past four weeks, I see growth
in how I'm approaching writing and reading stories. So
I'm thrilled you offer this program."
— Allison
Catherine
"That was
a good talk yesterday.... It was somewhat liberating
to learn that writers think in such analytical ways about their
work. There
seems to be a school of thought that regards stories as found
objects, in a way, that they just happen. Ha. Now
I have permission to be more designing. It was an eye-opener.... Your
remarks were also refreshing in their lack of 'rules.' I've
heard so many of them (never use adverbs, never use the word look,
never use flashbacks, etc.). I've always suspected
this was a crock but have been involved in numerous time-wasting
discussions with those who go for do's and don'ts ... I
did find [your ideas] all very helpful."
— Karen
Burns
"I just finished
retyping the notes from the workshop ... such a wealth
of insight and ideas, all of it relevant and directly applicable....
Thank you. There was more essential information crammed
into one week than I remember getting in a quarter of college
coursework.... The
ideas you presented have already led to big breakthroughs....
More will come. Your insights were brilliant, your empathy
important, your directness instructive, and your acknowledgment
that the real world of publishing is much, much tougher than
the workshop rang both true and sobering. It's important
what you do."
— Dave
Webb
"Thanks
so much for the very rich week. It met my expectations,
and more. I'm grateful that you continue to set the bar
so high, even when the jump looks impossible."
— Linda
Moyer
"Thanks for
the concentrated dose of reality. As my head clears,
I realize that, although I've read a number of books on the
writing craft, I've never encountered any that are as precise
in spelling out the elements of narrative fiction the way you
and Carol did.
— Bill
Roberts
"Your workshop
was excellent and left me with a lot to guide my rewriting
when I was ready
to work again. Now I start out knowing where to go, and
though I feel overwhelmed at times, I get back to a point of
clarity pretty quickly.... I certainly hope to work with
you more in the future."
— Kallie
Wilbourn
"Thank you for teaching me the meaning of the word grace by
giving me the experience of it for one solid week. Both
of you are gifted and generous, and it was a pleasure to be in
your company."
— Lynda
Levy
"My writing life now exists as: Before Carol and Tom, and
After. And,
Tom, I greatly appreciate the notes, comments, and editing you
did... It should not be too difficult now to straighten
things out and ride the thrust. Once I've written the novel
... I hope to apply to your alumni workshop."
— Kathleen
Maher
"Thank
you both so much for the intensity of last week's workshop. I
laughed when I got home and read the postcard I'd written to
my husband mid-week ('I'm learning so much — are
we ready for this?' is what I wrote, and I admit I felt a little
panic!) You prepared me to answer my own question, though,
and now I feel as if things are beginning to take shape! I'm
looking forward to the journey revision is going to take. Best
wishes, and I look forward to doing another workshop with you
in the future."
— Martha
Witte
"Thank
you for your energy and insight. You opened a world of
possibility."
— Nora
Harlow
"Thank you
so much for the mind-bending workshop last week. Although
I left exhausted, I was also encouraged. Most of all,
thank you for stopping me in my tracks and pointing me in the
right
direction. You were true to your promise to be rigorous,
but your patience and humor were equally important."
— LaNette
Schmeidler
> A
listing of magazines, journals, and prize collections in
which our students and writers have published and also
of awards they have received
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