Instructor: Ginger McKnight-Chavers
Two hour VIRTUAL sessions on Tuesdays
11:00am to 1:00pm EST
Limited to 12 participants
$470

Course Description

Writers are instructed that fiction should be “timeless.”  Many writers are discouraged from referencing historical, cultural or social references in their stories that might “date” their work.

However, our characters and stories are often inextricably entwined with and defined by historical facts and cultural touchstones.  History can provide an essential element of context within contemporary fiction.  History is often an essential character within our work, even if we are not writing historical fiction. 

This workshop helps writers navigate the challenge of incorporating historical facts and references into their stories in an organic way.  We will use exercises and prompts to enable participants to seamlessly incorporate historical facts into their fiction.  Students will also learn writing and research tools to ensure the accuracy and relevancy of their historical references.  And this course will provide an opportunity to share and receive feedback on their work.

Who Should Take This Class?

Whether you are a beginning writer or an experienced fiction author, this course will benefit all writers who incorporate historical facts and references in their fictional works.

Your Instructor

Ginger McKnight-Chavers is an author and attorney whose debut novel, In the Heart of Texas (She Writes Press), won the 2016 USA Best Book Award in the category of African American Fiction.  An excerpt from her novel-in-progress, Oak Cliff, appears in the Summer 2019 issue of Solstice as a finalist in their annual literary contest. A native Texan, McKnight-Chavers is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Law School.  She was awarded a Kathryn Gurfein Writing Fellowship at Sarah Lawrence College and is currently an instructor in SLC’s Writing Institute. McKnight-Chavers was a contributor to Oil and Water: And Other Things That Don’t Mix, and her work appears in Essence, ShareBlue, The Huffington Post, and other publications.

Testimonials

"Ginger’s breadth of knowledge and engaging presence shone through. I'd definitely recommend her class." - former student