Interested in writing fiction? Join this one-hour fiction sampler class with Hank Lewis and try your hand at some generative writing prompts, discuss readings, meet other new writers, and learn more about Porch Year instructor Hank Lewis and the upcoming fiction cohort.
About the Porch Year: The Porch Year is an online, immersive one-year manuscript mentorship program designed for committed writers. With a maximum of 12 participants, this cohort offers personalized feedback, accountability, goal-setting, and community needed to brainstorm, write, revise, and complete a manuscript draft, all from the convenience of an online setting. It’s an ideal option for both local and remote writers looking to work closely with peers and an experienced instructor.
Zoom link provided upon registration.
William Henry Lewis has published fiction, poetry, and non-fiction in many publications, including The Washington Post, O Magazine, Higher Issues In Education, Colorado Review, New Letters, African-American Review, Blackbird, Callaloo, Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, Swing, and BOMB. His work has featured in conjunction with exhibitions at the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn and the Baltimore Museum of Art, and his stories have been reprinted in several anthologies, domestic and abroad. His work has been honored by the Hurston/Wright Foundation, the American Library Association, Fellowship of Southern Writers, National Endowment for the Arts, Best American Short Stories, and as finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Prize.
He is the author of two books of stories, In the Arms of Our Elders (Carolina Wren Press; three printings), and I Got Somebody in Staunton (HarperCollins; two printings), which was listed among Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2005, and selected as the city of Richmond's Go Read book for 2006.
His work has been praised by David Eggers, Nikki Giovanni, Peter Matthiessen, Marita Golden, Edward P. Jones, and has been acclaimed by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TimeOut, and The Washington Post. The Los Angeles Times Book Review praised his fiction as "beautifully written and carefully crafted," while the Boston Globe noted his work as "moving, but unsentimental, these are stories of hard-won wisdom, potent intelligence, and compassion for the cadence of everyday life, establishing Lewis as a writer to be appreciated and admired."
"Having my work workshopped and receiving Hank’s feedback helped build my confidence and develop a stronger understanding of my craft. The experience was so meaningful in preparing me for my journey and getting into a wonderful MFA program. I would highly recommend his course to anyone looking to become a better writer with thoughtful guidance and mentorship." --Ritika Bali, former student
"Hank Lewis has done more for my development as a writer than any other instructor. He combines a deep knowledge of literature with an approach that is tailored to the story and the student. There isn’t space here for a discussion of his generosity and his patience, but those qualities are effortless for him. If you have the opportunity to work with Hank, take it." --Pete Hack, former student
"Hank Lewis is one of the finest instructors I have ever learned from; he has an ability to communicate passion and information in equal parts, all while creating a community that fosters deep and lasting relationships among the writers in his class. He is an extraordinary human being and a brilliant editor. His poetic attention to detail makes every manuscript he works on even better than it was before. I am so grateful to have had his thoughtful eyes on my work, which is vastly better because of his input." --Corie Rosen, former student, subsequent manuscript client
"In Hank’s workshop, I learned concrete ways to revise without sacrificing the beauty and mystery of art-making. Hank has an incredible knack for making complex craft concerns accessible and exploratory. I’m grateful for his close reading and encouragement—I’d take his class again and again!" --Sunny Lee, former student
"Hank creates a safe space where every writer feels seen, heard, and valued, regardless of their experience. He also helps you push past your self-imposed boundaries – whether urging you to perform a fairytale in public – or encouraging you to really dig in and elevate an element of your craft. He encourages writers not only to write but to examine the cultural, social, and emotional layers embedded in our work. He challenges us to dig deeper into our perspectives and to consider how our writing can engage with broader social issues. That even though we may not have yet finished that manuscript, our work is a part of a larger cultural continuum of story-telling. Through his guidance, I have learned to practice getting out of my own way and embrace my own voice." --Deidre Johnson, former student
"Before Hank’s workshop, I found myself in classes where the craft lessons were either too abstract or didactic. In Hank’s workshop, I learned concrete ways to revise without sacrificing the beauty and mystery of art-making. Hank has an incredible knack for making complex craft concerns accessible and exploratory. I’m grateful for his close reading and encouragement—I’d take his class again and again!"
"Hank Lewis has done more for my development as a writer than any other instructor. He combines a deep knowledge of literature with an approach that is tailored to the story and the student. There isn’t space here for a discussion of his generosity and his patience, but those qualities are effortless for him. If you have the opportunity to work with Hank, take it."
"Hank's class got me thinking about narrative construction in ways I hadn't considered before."
