Writing historical fiction requires a special skill set, including: balancing accuracy and storytelling, building historical worlds with powerful emotional effect, using primary documents for rich scenes, developing immersive setting without overburdening the story, creating engagement and believability with historical details, and composing convincing dialogue. We will integrate these topics into students’ practice by dissecting models and by generating/reworking students’ writing.
Judith Starkston
Piper Writers Studio Instructor 2020
Desert Nights, Rising Stars Fellow 2020
KJZZ StoryFest Author 2019
About Judith Starkston
Judith Starkston writes historical fantasy set in the Bronze Age world of Hittites and Greeks. She holds degrees in Classics, from University of California, Santa Cruz (BA) and Cornell University (MA). She taught high-school English, Latin and humanities. Her debut novel, Hand of Fire, was a semi-finalist for the prestigious M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Her second novel, Priestess of Ishana won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. She is represented by Richard Curtis.
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Writing Historical Fiction
Judith Starkston
Date: Thursdays, April 2 - 16, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Type: Craft Class, Generative Workshop, Workshop
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Genre Fiction, Historical Fiction, History, Mystery, Research
Type: Craft Class, Generative Workshop, Workshop
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Genre Fiction, Historical Fiction, History, Mystery, Research
Intermediate Fiction Workshop
Judith Starkston
Date: Tuesdays, October 13 - 27, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Arizona time
Type: Workshop
Genre: Fiction, Novels, Short Stories
Type: Workshop
Genre: Fiction, Novels, Short Stories
This three-session workshop is for writers currently working on a novel or short stories who want to sharpen their craft and participate in structured critique. The instruction will focus on deep point of view, character nuance and dimensions, and plot organization and pacing. We will integrate these topics into students’ practice through generating or revising short scenes within students’ manuscripts. We will discuss these scenes and model how to participate in a supportive, productive critique group.