WA051 Raising the Stakes in Your Stories

Tuesday, April 5, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

In many stories, the what-is-going-to-happen is the carrot in front of the reader, but not all stories are best told from this standpoint. Other stories keep the why-something-happened or the how-it-happened for the end. In this workshop, you will learn various ways to increase the stakes of a story so as to keep the reader engaged. There will be no in-class writing exercises, no assignments, no proposed subjects about which to write; consequently, it is NOT recommended for beginners or the otherwise shy. Instead, bring your works in progressundefinedFiction and Non-Fiction alikeundefinedand receive concrete and savvy feedback from other serious writers including long-time member, writer, and now volunteer instructor, Bob Levy.


Instructor: Bob Levy has been writing short fiction and literary memoirs for 21 years. His work has appeared in countless journals, as well as the Chicago Tribune and San Francisco Bay Guardian. He has received awards including the 'Langston Hughes Award' in 2001, a Chicago Tribune Nelson Algren Award in 2001, and a Pushcart Prize nomination.