Scott Broker

The Art of Flash Fiction — 3 & 6 weeks

Flash fiction, typically 1,000 words (2-3 pages) or fewer, is a completely unique form of writing: ephemeral, opaque, narratively slanted, and (gleefully) uninterested in certain expectations of storytelling. In this class, we will consider the genre in all of its surprising capaciousness. For the first three weeks, we will read a wide array of flash, doing generative prompts based on those readings as we go. 

The course's latter three weeks, for those interested, will be a workshop. Everyone can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and their fellow writers on one or two pieces. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, MFA programs, and more.

This course will begin on May 3. If you are interested in being a part of the initial 3 weeks only, it will end on May 17. If you are interested in being a part of the workshop portion, it will most likely end on June 14, though that date is subject to move earlier depending on how many people are participating. All sessions run on Saturdays from 10 AM - 12 PM (PST) and are conducted via Zoom.

The cost is $175-$200 sliding scale for the 3 week sequence, and $375-$400 for the 6 week one.  Payment plans are welcome. Feel free to reach out to me here or on Instagram if you have questions.

Literatures of Grief — 3 & 6 weeks

This course looks at the encounter of grief and writing from a variety of different styles and genres. For our first three weeks, we will read and discuss stories, essays, and poems that feature or are shaped by grief. During this time, we will also have prompts that utilize different craft elements to explore the various ways in which grief can be approached as a subject. 

The course's latter half, for those interested, will be a workshop. Everyone will have the chance to workshop in the genre of their choosing, and can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and their fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

Novel Openings — 6 weeks

This is a course focused on the opening pages of a novel-length work. These pages are vital in establishing nearly all aspects of the story to come, from its tone to its characters, its voice to its setting. We will begin by reading a variety of novel beginnings, analyzing the wide array of approaches one might take while building their own foundation, and doing prompts based around these readings to help orient ourselves to our own unique visions.

The course's latter half will be a workshop. Everyone will have the chance to workshop an excerpt from the start of their project, whether that be something written for the class, or something you've already been working on. You can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and your fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

General Fiction Workshop — 6 weeks

This course is designed for writers of all levels. We will begin by reading and discussing a variety of short stories, familiarizing ourselves with the world of contemporary literature and breaking down the craft elements that go into a successful work of prose. From these texts, we will pull tools to help develop and sharpen our own unique voices. During this time we will also do generative writing exercises that will explore different components of craft, such as voice, setting, and dialogue.

The latter half of the course will go to workshopping one another's work. These can be short stories or novel excerpts up to 20 pages in length. Everyone can expect to get thoughtful, thorough notes from myself and their fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

Queer  Visions — 6 weeks

This course is designed for queer writers of all levels and genres. In the spirit of fluidity, we will spend the first three weeks reading and discussing a mixture of queer fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid works, analyzing the aesthetic decisions that go into making a compelling piece of queer art. Each class will also have exercises that will allow us to explore our voices across genres.

The course's latter half will be a workshop. Everyone will have the chance to workshop in the genre of their choosing, and can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and their fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

Writing the Unreal — 6 weeks

This course, designed for writers of all levels, is focused on literary fiction that breaks or bends the limits of reality. For our first three weeks, we will read and discuss stories that fall within the following genres:  surrealism, fabulism, magical realism, absurdism, the uncanny, the fairy tale, and experimental writing. We will also discuss the differences between these genres, and do writing prompts based upon the readings.

The course's latter half will be a workshop. Everyone will have the chance to workshop a short story or collection of flash fictions, and can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and their fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

Writing As Resistance — 3 weeks

To close out the year, I wanted to offer something a little different than normal: a three-week reading circle and generative workshop centered around resistance writing. As a group, we will look at poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid works that are actively engaged with political disruption.  Alongside our discussion of these words, I will provide generative prompts for both creative and reflective work. Unlike the six-week workshops, this course will not be focused on providing feedback on writing; rather, its aim is to create a collaborative community space guided by the practice of writing against hegemonic power.

Hybrid Forms of Literature — 6 weeks

Hybrid writing is one of the most exciting and elusive categories of literature, existing somewhere in the margins that typically divide fiction, nonfiction, multimedia art, and poetry. In this course, we will begin by spending three weeks reading and analyzing hybrid texts, parsing out their unique aesthetic qualities and seeing how we might let those qualities influence our work. Readings will range from well known practitioners such as Claudia Rankine and Maggie Nelson to lesser known champions of the form.

The course's latter half will be a workshop. Everyone will have the chance to workshop a hybrid work of their own, and can expect thoughtful notes and conversation from myself and their fellow writers. We will also have the opportunity to discuss publishing, agents, MFA programs, and more.

Literary Horror — 2.5 hours

In this class, we will look at the expansive, spooky, and at-times nebulous world of literary horror, considering how we might generate work that embodies values of both literary fiction and horror writing. We will read published materials by some of the best writers of the genre, such as Mariana Enriquez and Brian Evenson, sifting through their methods and doing in-class prompts related to their work. Unlike my traditional workshops, this is a one-day course geared toward craft conversation and generative writing, rather than feedback on written work.

Sex Writing — 2.5 hours

Despite being an essential feature in many people’s lives, the subject of sex in writing holds a surprisingly fraught position in the world of literature, with some people seeming to think it shouldn’t be seen at all, or at least not with any real indulgence. This has always surprised me, and in this class I hope to present some of the many ways in which a good sex scene is as compelling, if not more compelling, than any other type of on-page intimacy. As a group, we will look at several examples of sex writing that are multilayered in what they are accomplishing. We will also take inspiration from this work and do a few in-class writing prompts. Unlike my traditional workshops, this is a one-day course geared toward craft conversation and generative writing, rather than feedback on written work.

The Art of Ekphrasis — 2.5 hours

Ekphrastic writing is writing that engages with a work of art in some meaningful way. Though traditionally a form affiliated with descriptive poetry, this class will expand the scope of what the ekphrastic mode can look like, considering poems, fiction, and nonfiction that have art, and the careful consideration thereof, at their center. As a group, we will move between discussions of what craft decisions go into a successful piece of ekphrasis and  prompt-based writing time. Unlike my traditional workshops, this is a one-day course geared toward craft conversation and generative writing, rather than feedback on written work.