‘Holding Time’ 13th Annual Washington Island Literary Festival

FICTION:
Plot and Narrative: Looking for a Perfect Marriage with William Kent Krueger
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL; WAITLIST ONLY
Plot and Narrative: Looking for the Perfect Marriage
Plot is the backbone of a good piece of fiction, the necessary skeleton. Narrative is the soul. Striking a balance between these two, sometimes competing, essentials is not an easy task. We’ll review the elements of both plot and narrative and, along with some in-class exercises, attempt a better understanding of that elusive balance.

POETRY:
Rift and Repair with Heather Swan
Impermanence is an essential part of our existence. Forms change, landscapes change, we change. We break and heal. We plant seeds and say farewell. How can poetry help us make these transitions gracefully? In this workshop, we will bring our attention to the rifts and the moments of repair in order to find peace and healing in the present moment through poetry.

FICTION:
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Time and Clocks in Fiction with Dionne Irving
Fiction is all about time. Stories compress time and they expand time, working with their own internal and external clocks. In all fictions—however large or small—time passes and things happen. We must think about how time is at the center of writing credible and memorable artistic fiction. While time can be either circular, linear, or nonlinear, there are always beginnings and endings. Understanding how to employ time for artistic purposes is central to good writing practice. In this workshop we will consider how clocks work in stories. We will discuss and engage with the natural world, humor, pacing, and a variety of story forms to deepen our understanding and appreciation of time and essential narrative function.

MULTIGENRE:
Writing 101: A Beginner’s Toolkit with Marianne Fons and Alessandra Simmons Rolffs
Many people who love words and stories would like to try writing, but something holds them back. Maybe they fear the blank page, or they think real writers belong to some secret club, or they’re just not sure how to start. If you have a novel, a memoir, or a collection of poems inside you, or just want to learn about the writing process, this workshop will demystify the solitary practice of writing and equip you with the tools to help you take those first steps.

NONFICTION:
Letting the Natural World Speak: Creative Nonfiction with Humans in the Background with Marcia Bjornerud
Wisconsin has been the inspiration for eminent natural history writers including John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Sigurd Olson. In this workshop, we will take inspiration from their legacies and consider different approaches to writing about nature and science for non-specialist readers. The natural world is full of untold stories, with wilder plotlines and stranger protagonists than anything in human-centered literature. What happens when we give voices to rocks, rivers, landscapes? How can we maintain scientific nuance while crafting narratives that keep readers reading? Is anthropomorphism taboo — or necessary? Are there fresh new forms of nature writing that could help 21st century Earthlings navigate the Anthropocene?

FICTION:
From Inspiration to Authenticity with Nickolas Butler
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL; WAITLIST ONLY
Writer Nickolas Butler derives much of his material from overheard conversations or the stories people tell him. But how does a writer take fragments of ideas that have nothing to do with a potential fictional project, and turn those fragments into short stories, or even novels? In this workshop, Butler will share his own “process”, his philosophy on “following stories”, and how his abbreviated journey into politics also informs his writing.

POETRY:
Capturing the Moment through Haiku with Albert DeGenova
In this workshop, we’ll explore the art of haiku, a traditional Japanese form of poetry that captures fleeting moments with imagery and emotion. Participants will discuss how to observe the world around them and translate those observations into concise, evocative poems. The focus will be on “presence” – capturing a moment in time. In Japanese tradition, the haiku aesthetic is a “zen moment of clarity” referring to a sudden realization or epiphany that brings understanding, a shift in perspective, often associated with a state of mindfulness and self-awareness. Through discussion and writing prompts, we will attempt to distill the essence of a moment into three lines of poetry.

FICTION:
Getting it Right When You Write Historical Fiction with Ann Heyse
Both readers and writers of historical fiction will enjoy this interactive workshop led by Ann Heyse, author of The Light is Ours, a novel set in Door County in 1871-72. Heyse will discuss how she balances the two equally important aspects of this genre: writing and research. She’ll offer tips about how to conduct research effectively and offer resources and examples. Finally, with some low-key, interactive exercises, she’ll offer a chance to imagine the lives of historical characters and write about them in a creative way.