A Novel Approach:
A Big Project Broken Into Small Choices

Writing Workshop in New Jersey
January 15-18, 2027
Led by Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela

Novels have many moving parts, making it easy for us to lose track of the big picture as we write. This workshop will help us stay focused on the driving conflict of our novels while pushing through the messy drafting process. Guided exercises will keep our manuscripts moving forward as we explore “side-writing” for character development and learn how to sustain inner peril in a story. We will use our supportive space to share excerpts with each other, taking notes on how and when we might revise further drafts. You are welcome to bring a novel-in-progress or early outlines, or to start something brand new.

*Limited to just 10 participants.*

 

“I love the three night time-frame. It allows for deep work and play. The workshops were the right length, and the panels and evening events were lovely. This was my first, but not my last time! Thank you.”
~ Laura, Montclair, NJ

 

Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela

Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela’s writing has been recognized by The Leeway Foundation, Hedgebrook and others. Her work has been published in Make/shift, The Rust Belt Rising, Apiary, Aster(ix) and is forthcoming in All About Skin: An Anthology of Short Fiction by Award-Winning Women Writers of Color. She is the founder of Thread Makes Blanket press, which most recently published Dismantle, an anthology of work from VONA, an annual workshop for writers of color. As part of her teaching at Community College of Philadelphia, Marissa teaches in Philadelphia jails, develops Latino courses, and tries hard to get her students to love reading and writing. She is working on her first novel. Read a piece by Marissa.