There are hundreds of craft books that all basically say similar things: avoid cliches, use original metaphors or similes, show not tell. In this workshop, we will explore ways to do that individually and in community. We will respond to and share some playful, generative writing prompts. We will read short essays from Danez Smith, Cam Awkward Rich, and others about our language and the power of our voices. We will engage in exercises exploring revision strategies exploring cliché, experimenting metaphor, and unpacking the adage show versus tell. Students will leave with a few practical approaches to sentence revision as well as a reminder to find joy in the process.

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About the Instructor:

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Tomas Moniz is a latinx writer living in Oakland, CA. His debut novel, Big Familia, was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/Hemingway and the LAMBDA. His new novel, out this summer, is titled All Friends are Necesarry. Tomas is the recipient of the prestigious SF Literary Arts Foundation’s 2016 Award, the 2020 Artist Affiliate for Headlands Center for Arts, and the 2023 Lucas Artists Residency Program Fellow. He teaches at Berkeley City College and the Antioch MFA program. He has stuff on the internet but loves penpals: PO Box 3555, Berkeley CA 94703. He promises to write back.

Click here to learn more about Tomas.

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LEFT MARGIN LIT'S CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY:

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If you find that you can't take a class for which you registered, you may request a refund, less a $25 administrative fee, at least 48 hours prior to the start of the first class session. If a class doesn't reach its minimum enrollment, it will be cancelled, and all students will receive full refunds.