Dialogue and Point of View

This is a reading and exercise-based class designed to explore and practice dialogue, voice and point-of-view in fiction and creative nonfiction. Each week, we read sample fiction and creative nonfiction to identify how the content is influenced by the narrative choices the writers make. We discuss how dialogue can bring characters and situations to life without imitating the hesitation or redundancy of real conversation and identify the benefits and drawbacks of narrating your work in first, second and third-person point-of-view. We explore the power of voice and the influence of narrative distance on the reader. Weekly exercises put theory into practice and help discover what works (and what doesn't) in your own writing practice.