First Thoughts: A Generative Fiction Workshop with Lena Valencia
Thursdays, September 28th-November 2nd
7pm-9pm
In-Person at One Story in Gowanus, Brooklyn
$400
$350
“First thoughts have tremendous energy,” says Natalie Goldberg in her book Writing Down the Bones. This generative fiction class will harness that energy through a series of guided exercises, craft lectures, and readings designed to help you create first drafts and build out works in progress. With limited take-home reading and exercises, this class is ideal for writers of all skill levels who have busy schedules and would like to build in some productive writing time.
Sharing exercises out loud is an important part of this class, and while we will be discussing your in-class writing, all feedback will be limited to positive feedback. The goal of these generative sessions is to get words on the page and to guide writers toward expanding their drafts should they decide to revise them on their own time. You will leave the class with a notebook full of first thoughts and writing prompts to revisit whenever you feel stuck.
This class is designed with fiction writers in mind, but writers of creative nonfiction may also find the exercises useful.
The class will meet in-person in One Story’s office in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Thursday evenings from September 28th–November 2nd. The exact address will be shared before the first meeting.
Please note that while this is technically a workshop since verbal feedback will be given in response to the work students share out loud during our sessions, it won’t be quite as in-depth as in a traditional workshop model where students turn in work in advance of the class meeting and receive written feedback in addition to having their piece discussed in class.
About Lena Valencia:
Lena Valencia is the author of the short story collection Mystery Lights (Tin House Books, 2024). Her fiction has appeared in BOMB, Electric Literature, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of a 2019 Elizabeth George Foundation grant and holds an MFA in fiction from The New School. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she co-hosts the reading series Ditmas Lit. For more information please visit lenavalencia.com.
Course Takeaways & Schedule
TAKEAWAYS:
– Simple prompts that can be used long after the class is complete
– Time to create new work in a supportive, low-pressure environment
– Opportunity to discover and experiment with new forms
EXPECTATIONS:
The majority of class time will be spent on generative writing exercises: writing, sharing, and discussing them. There will be some time devoted to in-class reading of fiction, creative nonfiction, and craft essays. Most of the reading assigned outside of class time will be optional reading.
SCHEDULE:
Week 1: Welcome & Course Expectations
Week 2: Character
Week 3: Place & Setting
Week 4: Research in Fiction
Week 5: Family Lore
Week 6: Revision
(subject to change)
Policies
Our classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Full refunds are available through September 20th. Partial refunds (50%) are granted if the class is dropped within one week of the class start date (September 21st through 27th). Payment is non-refundable on or after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or to receive a refund, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
We are unable to offer scholarships for this class.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
