The word “structure” is tossed around a lot in creative writing classes. But what does good plot structure actually look like in practice?
This three-hour class will look closely at three stories from Anton Chekhov, each with its own sometimes strange, sometimes surprising use of story structure. We’ll talk through how to apply strong story structure to our own work without stifling its humanity and you’ll leave with concrete tips for strengthening the plots of your own stories, novels, and works of creative nonfiction.
• In-Class Writing Lift: Light
• Homework: None
• Workshopping Drafts: None
Andrew Steiner was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2022 he received an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. In his mid-20s he left a nonprofit career to work on a small vegetable farm, providing the setting for his first novel, Let This Remain, represented by The Wylie Agency. His short fiction has been published in Narrative, Epoch, and Grain and is forthcoming in The Common. He currently lives in Germany.
"Andrew was incredible! I learned a ton and I am very motivated to start my novel! He is clear and knowledgeable and such a great teacher. He takes enough time for explanation on a point but asks our feedback and really listens. We learned a lot. Thank you for a perfect first class!"
"Andrew's class was inspiring and informative. When I left, I felt like writing!"
"Andrew was great! Personable and engaging, he kept a solid tempo for the time we had and allowed for a lot of captivating discussion."
