WRITE
ATTEND
READ
SUPPORT
Meet THe Team
Bring your idea to life! While a novel can feel daunting, the steep climb begins with important first steps. In this class, we will play with craft elements that unite your story—establishing a world into which your reader wants to disappear. We’ll explore different approaches and gain a deeper understanding of what individual process best works for you. Plan to spend ample time reading and writing outside of class in preparation for a fully engaged workshop each week. The goal is not only for you to leave with pages of your novel, but with inspiration and momentum for the road ahead.
• In-Class Writing Lift: Light
• Homework: Required
• Workshopping Drafts: Intensive
Lara Hughes holds an MFA in fiction from Vanderbilt University, where she taught undergraduate creative writing and served as Nonfiction Editor for the Nashville Review. She is a recipient of the 2025 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize. Her writing has received support from the New York State Summer Writers Institute, appeared in The Arkansas International as an Emerging Writer’s Prize winner, and is forthcoming in this year's Best Debut Short Stories (Catapult). She currently lives in Nashville, where she is at work on a novel and short story collection.
"I loved Lara's class! I really enjoyed how Lara structured the class as a blend of lecture, conversation and a few writing exercises. It made the time pass very quickly and the material didn't get overwhelming. I absolutely felt inspired and believe the work I did in this class will help me with some works in progress!"
"Lara was intuitive and responsive, smart and articulate."
