We are pleased to present an Image Intensive workshop with Chigozie Obioma!
Creating Unforgettable Characters: An Experiment in Lasting Fiction
Fiction with Chigozie Obioma
A three-week craft workshop on fiction
October 16-November 1
Mondays & Wednesdays, 1-2:30 PM Eastern
We are pleased to announce another Image Intensive, an opportunity to dive deeper into your craft, guided by faculty from our community who understand the unique impulses and challenges facing artists at the intersection of art and faith.
From our facilitator, Chigozie Obioma:
I often tell my fiction students to rather not publish a book if it will be a “disposable” book. What makes a work of fiction “disposable” you may ask? This question will be central during our six-session workshop. Thusly, this workshop is for fiction writers of all levels who wish to explore how to create characters who linger in the mind long after the reader has turned the last page.
In this workshop, we will explore how to create character-driven stories, explore the different kinds of plot and how plot can be the function of characters, and learn from peers in a close-knit workshop. The workshop will also include an editorial note and line-editing guidance.
Week 1, Character as Plot: What are plot designs that can best help propel a fictional narrative?
Week 2, Narrative Focus: Amongst other things, we will look out how we can learn narrative concision from the Bible.
Week 3, Expansion: Structure, concept, framing, etc.
In a small-group setting capped at 10 students, participants will experience:
- 90-minute sessions twice a week over 3 weeks
- Participants will discuss reading and other craft materials during each session from writers ranging from Kazuo Ishiguro to faith-themed works from writers such as John Milton.
- Obioma will provide in-depth feedback and editorial notes for each participant’s manuscript (up to 3000 words each).
This workshop is for this workshop is for fiction writers of all levels who wish to explore how to create characters who linger in the mind long after the reader has turned the last page. If you are yearning for a compassionate writing community, seeking to learn more about yourself, hoping for a thorough review of your work, or wishing for a supportive place to grow in your craft, this workshop is for you.
$895
This four-week seminar will be held on Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from August 29-September 21.
About the Instructor
About Chigozie Obioma
Chigozie Obioma was born in Akure, Nigeria. His two novels, The Fishermen (2015) and An Orchestra of Minorities (2019) were shortlisted for The Booker Prize and have been translated into 30 languages. He has an LA Times book prize, the prestigious Internationalerpris for best fiction in German, FT/Oppenheimer prize for fiction, an NAACP Image award and has been nominated for two dozens prizes for fiction. He is the James E. Ryan Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the program director of the Oxbelly Writers retreat. His third novel, The Road to the Country, will be published in June 2024.
About the Image Intensives
The Image Intensive series is aimed at fostering the growth of artists working at the intersection of art and faith. The Image Intensives offer an opportunity to dive deeper into your craft, guided by faculty from our community who understand the unique impulses and challenges facing artists at the intersection of art and faith.
FAQ
For additional questions, please email Ryan Pemberton, Image's director of community cultivation, at ryan.pemberton@imagejournal.org.
Sign up to receive updates about future Image Intensives as they are announced.
Thanks for subscribing!