This workshop was offered in 2024. Sign up for our email list to receive updates for this year’s conference.

—

A Novel Approach:
Beginning Your Novel

Writing Workshop in New Jersey
January 12-15, 2024
Led by Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela

Starting a novel can be daunting. How do authors do it? In this encouraging workshop, we will explore a variety of potential strategies to help you get your novel off to an energized start. Designed for writers of all levels—from first foray to longtime writer refinements—this workshop invites you to bring all of your fictional ideas to life through a willingness to write. Craft discussions will be based on readings and models rather than lecture. Flexible and generative writing exercises will be given, with time for writing and feedback. Bring your previously-written drafts or ideas to start something new.

*Limited to just 10 participants.*

 

“Marissa was a fantastic instructor. She ran a tight lesson that allowed room for creativity. Everything was great.”
~ Justin, Brooklyn, NY

 

Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela

Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela is a writer, activist, DJ and teacher. Her work has appeared in publications including American Poetry Review, Foundry, Prism International, The Baffler and Make/shift. Fiction is her primary means of artistic expression and she is currently working on her first novel. She is the founder of Thread Makes Blanket Press. An assistant professor of English at the Community College of Philadelphia, she holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Wyoming. She has received grants from the Velocity Fund and Leeway Foundation. With Leeway, Marissa has organized writer networking and also started a quarterly series of literary salons. She is currently instructing a college course on Prison Literature while also working on a project through Books Through Bars Philadelphia.