***I'm taking a sabbatical from teaching until the Fall 2024 to recharge and pursue some personal projects. I'm looking forward to returning refreshed and energized.*** 


This comprehensive and dynamic writing class is designed to challenge and inspire advanced writers through an exploration of a wide range of fiction subgenres, coupled with the integration of unique vocabulary and sensory detail. The course is structured around weekly themes, each introducing new mystery words and texture words to enrich the students' writing, encouraging them to weave these elements into their narratives seamlessly.

Course Structure and Goals:

Diverse Fiction Subgenres: Students will delve into various fiction subgenres, including adventure, historical, paranormal, contemporary, and speculative fiction, among others. This exposure will allow them to experiment with different styles, settings, and character types, broadening their creative horizons.

Vocabulary Expansion: The introduction of funny-sounding and unique vocabulary words not only adds humor and interest but also challenges students to expand their language use beyond the conventional. This exercise aims to enhance word choice and precision in storytelling.

Sensory Detail: Each class focuses on specific texture words, pushing students to enrich their descriptions with sensory details. This practice aims to create vivid, immersive experiences for readers, enhancing the emotional and atmospheric impact of the narratives.

Writing and Editing Practice: The course emphasizes quick writing exercises, followed by focused editing sessions. This approach encourages spontaneous creativity while also teaching the value of revision and refinement.

Peer Feedback: Sharing work with peers and engaging in thoughtful, compassionate feedback sessions are integral parts of the class. This process fosters a supportive writing community and offers diverse perspectives on the students' work.


Instructional Approach:

Modeling by the Instructor: The teacher actively models each task, demonstrating writing, editing, and revising strategies in real-time. This transparency in the writing process provides students with clear examples and techniques they can apply to their own work.

Quick Writes: Fast, unstructured writing exercises stimulate creativity and idea generation, serving as a starting point for further development and refinement.

Targeted Editing: Students focus on improving specific aspects of their writing in each session, such as word choice or sensory detail, using techniques like the "beefy words" strategy for vocabulary enhancement.

Ongoing Support: The instructor offers continuous encouragement and personalized feedback, aiming to boost students' confidence and skill in writing.


Course Schedule Highlights:
Weekly Themes: Each week introduces new mystery words starting with specific letters and texture words to incorporate into writing, aligned with the fiction focus of the week.

Subgenre Exploration: From exploring the nuances of gothic fiction to crafting narratives in the realms of steampunk or magic realism, students will tackle a new subgenre each week, offering fresh challenges and opportunities for creative expression.

This class not only aims to make writing an enjoyable and engaging activity but also to instill in students a deep appreciation for the craft, encouraging them to take creative risks and develop their unique voice as writers.

Students will write in a variety of fiction subgenres: adventure, historical, paranormal, contemporary, category, fantasy, gothic, science fiction, myth, steampunk, sword and sandal, speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror fiction, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history), suspense, techno-thriller, mystery, crime, fake relationship, family saga, western, magic realism, and literary fiction. This class is for advanced writers. This class is very challenging and has a high level of rigor. Students will improve their writing by careful selection of ideas.

Students will increase use of multi-syllable and content specific words in their writing. Students will write pieces of fiction.

In this on-going class, students will learn 60 funny sounding vocabulary words, historical context, and other fun tidbits about the word.  Then students integrate these new words seamlessly into their writing. Students will improve their writing by careful selection of ideas. Students will apply historical content to their writing.  A third challenge will be present to include a new texture word during each class.

This class is for advanced writers. This class is fun, very challenging,  and has a high level of rigor. Part I should be taken before Part II as content and skill increases with each week. 

Fun and bubbly teacher promotes laughter and encourages quick thinking. I want to make writing your favorite hobby, or at least make it as pain free as possible. I use short three minute writings to drive instruction in improving tone and point of view within writing. This is an on-going class.

 Students may join or leave at any time.


Week of Feb 19 & Week of Feb 26
                The mystery word starts with A 
                The mystery word starts with B
                Fiction Focus:  Adventure
                Texture Word #1 Abrasive
                Texture Word #2 Acute

Week of Mar 4 & Mar 11  No class due to knee surgery

Week of Mar 18 & Mar 25
                The mystery word starts with A 
                The mystery word starts with B
                Fiction Focus:  Adventure
                Texture Word #1 Abrasive
                Texture Word #2 Acute


Week of Apr 1 & Apr 8
                The mystery word starts with I 
                The mystery word starts with P
                Fiction Focus:  Historical
                Texture Word #1 Angular
                Texture Word #2 Arid

Week of Apr 15 & Apr 22
                The mystery word starts with S
                The mystery word starts with A
                Fiction Focus:  Paranormal
                Texture Word #1 Attractive
                Texture Word #2 Awkward

Week of Apr 29 & May  6
                The mystery word starts with B 
                The mystery word starts with R
                Fiction Focus:  Contemporary
                Texture Word #1 Bald
                Texture Word #2 Ballooned

Week of May 13 & May 20
                The mystery word starts with J
                The mystery word starts with T
                Fiction Focus:  Category
                Texture Word #1 Barbed
                Texture Word #2 Bendable

Week of May 27 & June 3
                The mystery word starts with A 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus:  Fantasy
                Texture Word #1 Blemished
                Texture Word #2 Blistered

Week of June 10 & June 17
                The mystery word starts with R 
                The mystery word starts with U
                Fiction Focus:  Gothic
                Texture Word #1 Blunt
                Texture Word #2 Boiling


Week of June 24 * No Class July 1*  &  Class Begins Again Week of July 8
                The mystery word starts with B 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus:  Science Fiction
                Texture Word #1 Bristly
                Texture Word #2 Burnished


Week of July 15 & July 22
                The mystery word starts with M 
                The mystery word starts with S
                Fiction Focus:  Myth
                Texture Word #1 Clammy
                Texture Word #2 Coagulated

Week of July 29 & Aug 5
                The mystery word starts with V 
                The mystery word starts with B
                Fiction Focus:  Steampunk
                Texture Word #1 Corduroy
                Texture Word #2 Corrugated

Week of Aug 12 & Aug 19
                The mystery word starts with B 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus:  Sword and Sandal
                Texture Word #1 Cratered
                Texture Word #2 Crenelated

Week of Aug 26 * No Class Sept 2 * Class Begins Again Sept 9
                The mystery word starts with D
                The mystery word starts with N
                Fiction Focus:  Speculative Fiction: Science
                Texture Word #1 Defective
                Texture Word #2 Dense

Week of Sept 16 & Sept 23
                The mystery word starts with B 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus:  Speculative Fiction: Fantasy
                Texture Word #1 Diaphanous
                Texture Word #2 Downy

Week of Sept 30  * No Class Oct. 7th *  Class Begins Again Oct. 14
                The mystery word starts with S 
                The mystery word starts with W
                Fiction Focus:  Speculative Fiction: Horror (not gross)
                Texture Word #1 Ductile
                Texture Word #2 Dented

Week of Oct 21  & Oct 28
                The mystery word starts with M 
                The mystery texture word starts with S
                Fiction Focus:  Speculative Fiction: Supernatural 
                Texture Word #1 Emblazoned
                Texture Word #2 Embossed

Week of Nov 4 & Nov 11
                The mystery word starts with C 
                The mystery word starts with S
                Fiction Focus:  Speculative Fiction: Superhero 
                Texture Word #1 Encrusted
                Texture Word #2 Etched

Week of Nov 18 & Nov 25
                The mystery word starts with T 
                The mystery word starts with B
                Fiction Focus: Speculative Fiction: Utopia
                Texture Word #1 Fiery
                Texture Word #2 Filmy

Week of Dec 2  & Dec 9
                The mystery word starts with P 
                The mystery word starts with V
                Fiction Focus: Speculative Fiction: Dystopia
                Texture Word #1 Flawed
                Texture Word #2 Frigid


Week of Dec 16  & Dec 23
                The mystery word starts with N 
                The mystery word starts with R
                Fiction Focus: Apocalyptic 
                Texture Word #1 Furred
                Texture Word #2 Fuzzy

Week of Dec 30 * No Class Jan 6 * Class Begins Again Jan 13
                The mystery word starts with A
                The mystery word starts with K
                Fiction Focus: Post-Apocalyptic 
                Texture Word #1 Glazed
                Texture Word #2 Gossamer

Week of Jan 20  & Jan 27
                The mystery word starts with H 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus:  Alternate History
                Texture Word #1 Granular
                Texture Word #2 Gravelly

Week of Feb 3  & Feb 10
                The mystery word starts with K 
                The mystery word starts with A
                Fiction Focus:  Suspense
                Texture Word #1 Grinding
                Texture Word #2 Grooved

Week of Feb 17  & Feb 24
                The mystery word starts with R
                The mystery word starts with K
                Fiction Focus:  Techno-Thriller
                Texture Word #1 Hairy
                Texture Word #2 Hatched

Week of Mar 3  & Mar 10
                The mystery word starts with K 
                The mystery word starts with M
                Fiction Focus:  Mystery
                Texture Word #1 Honeyed
                Texture Word #2 Hot-pressed

Week of Mar 17  & Mar 24
                The mystery word starts with S 
                The mystery word starts with K
                Fiction Focus:  Crime
                Texture Word #1 Humid
                Texture Word #2 Hygienic

Week of Mar 31  & Apr 7
                The mystery word starts with L 
                The mystery word starts with W
                Fiction Focus:  Fake Relationship
                Texture Word #1 Icy
                Texture Word #2 Ill-defined

Week of Apr 14  & Apr 21
                The mystery word starts with O 
                The mystery word starts with D
                Fiction Focus:  Family Saga
                Texture Word #1 Immaculate
                Texture Word #2 Impenetrable

Week of Apr 28  & May 5
                The mystery word starts with K 
                The mystery word starts with C
                Fiction Focus: Western Alternative History
                Texture Word #1 Imprinted
                Texture Word #2 Ironed

Week of May 12  & May 19
                The mystery word starts with M 
                The mystery word starts with K
                Fiction Focus: Magic Realism
                Texture Word #1 Jagged
                Texture Word #2 Knitted


Week of May 26 & June 2
                The mystery word starts with C 
                The mystery word starts with Q
                Fiction Focus: Literary Fiction
                Texture Word #1 Layered
                Texture Word #2 Lustrous

***Class Topics Repeat***