Patterned on a graduate school creative writing workshop, this class will guide participants through conceiving, pitching, and writing an original travel piece of up to 2,500 words. We'll begin by closely reading, discussing, and critiquing examples of excellent travel writing before participants will move on to crafting their own stories. Each piece will be closely read and discussed in class.

Five Ways In to Character is a unique, five-part technique for creating characters on the page and in performance. Synthesized by Julia McNeal, and honed over the last 15 years, this technique has never failed to deepen, clarify, and improve the character creation of all who apply it. The first of the Five Ways, “Way One,” introduces the first of the “Outside-In” approaches of the technique.

Join Pat Holt for a discussion of books that have captured the contemporary imagination. This cycle features The Friend by Sigrid Nunez; Deacon King Kong by James McBride; On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong; The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey; and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Pat is the former book review editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and publisher of Holt Uncensored.

Join Pat Holt for a discussion of books that have captured the contemporary imagination. This cycle features The Friend by Sigrid Nunez; Deacon King Kong by James McBride; On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong; The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey; and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Pat is the former book review editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and publisher of Holt Uncensored.

Five Ways In to Character is a unique, five-part technique for creating characters on the page and in performance. Synthesized by Julia McNeal, and honed over the last 15 years, this technique has never failed to deepen, clarify, and improve the character creation of all who apply it. Way Two completes the “Outside-In” work of the technique — focusing on gender; and Way Three is the deep core of the technique: the Inside-Out work that opens the door to any character’s truest being and unique nature.

Five Ways In to Character is a unique, five-part technique for creating characters on the page and in performance. Synthesized by Julia McNeal, and honed over the last 15 years, this technique has never failed to deepen, clarify, and improve the character creation of all who apply it. Ways Four and Five are both Inside-Out work (starting with the inner world of a character, and discovering how that manifests outwardly).

This class is designed to help writers improve their chance of getting their memoir, novel, or nonfiction book considered for publication by a reputable literary agent or publisher. The three hour course will cover topics including how to identify the right agent, editor or publisher, and what they look for in submissions; how to write a query letter; what a standard industry book contract looks like, and more.