Classes & Workshops
“Every course I have taken at NOWW has been on point! The teachers all share a passion for creativity! Inspiring indeed.”Isabella Christodoulou on NOWW Teachers
building a cohesive short story collection
(All Levels, In-person)
Instructor: Annell Lopez
Genre: Fiction
Number of Sessions: 1
Meets: 10 AM – 12:30 PM CT
Dates: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Where: NOCCA Foundation (2832 Royal Street New Orleans)
Cost: $65 / $57 by May 1, 2025 Class will be rescheduled.
Throughout this intensive, we will dive deep into the intricacies of building a cohesive collection, exploring how thematic threads, character development, and narrative style can create a harmonious, cohesive body of work.
We will read a few excerpts and examples from contemporary short story collections. Through a discussion and a handful of generative exercises, writers will learn ways to curate and organize their stories, establish a clear voice, and build connections between narratives.
You don’t need to have a finished collection! Whether you have a few stories drafted or a wealth of ideas waiting to be explored, this class will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to craft a collection that skillfully intertwines the uniqueness of each story with the cohesiveness of the overarching narrative.
Optional $140 Consultation Add-On: One story critique with written comments plus one half hour phone meeting. 5000 words max.
Annell Lopez
Annell López is the winner of the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize and the author of the short story collection I’LL GIVE YOU A REASON (Feminist Press), named a best short story collection of 2024 by Electric Literature. A Peter Taylor Fellow at the Kenyon Review Workshops, her work has also received support from Tin House and has appeared in Guernica, American Short Fiction, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Common, Brooklyn Rail, Refinery29 and elsewhere. López received her MFA from the University of New Orleans where she was awarded the Joanna Leake Fiction Prize. She is working on a novel.
Writing for children
(All Levels, In-person)
Instructor: Michelle Dumont
Genre: Children’s Literature
Number of Sessions: 1
Meets: 10 AM – 1 PM CT
Dates: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Where: NOCCA Foundation (2832 Royal Street New Orleans)
Cost: $80 / $72 by May 15, 2025
Whether you have a children’s story idea in mind or have a completed draft, this workshop covers essential elements such as character development and age-appropriate themes.
You’ll learn to create relatable characters and construct engaging narratives, focusing on the effective use of vivid language, sensory details, and the interplay of text and illustrations. We will analyze examples of both classic and contemporary children’s books to examine the techniques that make them effective.
The workshop also provides a practical overview of today’s publishing landscape, outlining the roles of agents, traditional publishers, as well as self-publishing options.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to submit your work for a written critique (maximum 1000 words) by Michelle within one week of class completion for an additional fee of $60 dollars.
Michelle Dumont
Michelle Dumont’s first children’s book, “The Mardi Gras Tail,” was released in January 2022 (Susan Schadt Press) and quickly became a beloved addition to the collection of children’s carnival season titles in New Orleans. Following this success, she published a second book, “An Alphabet Tail,” (Susan Schadt Press, 2022) and is currently working on the third book in the series.
Michelle is passionate about helping others find their voices and share their stories. Based on her professional experience in healthcare, she firmly believes that children’s literature not only fosters a love of reading but also establishes the groundwork for a healthier adulthood.
it ain’t over till it’s over: the problem of backstory
(All Levels, In-person)
Instructor: Allison Alsup
Genre: Fiction
Number of Sessions: 1
Meets: 9:30 AM – 2:15 PM
Dates: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Where: NOCCA Foundation (2832 Royal Street New Orleans)
Cost: $92 / $85 by May 20, 2025
Oh, backstory. We’ve all been there–attempting to decide what about the past, if anything, to include and where. Insert too much backstory and the narrative gets bogged down, losing its momentum. Insert too little and readers lack nuance and context for the current conflict. And of course, sometimes, the backstory is the real story. What’s a writer to do?
In this one day intensive suitable for prose writers of all genres, we’ll do a deep dive into the elusive craft of backstory–why it matters, when it doesn’t, and how to create backstories that don’t just add bulk but that hone our characters and their current conflicts. We’ll also look at practical strategies for seamlessly and organically integrating backstory material. Our time will be a combination of craft discussion and custom exercises. Short excerpts from notable writers will offer concrete examples of useful approaches. We’ll also engage in generative exercises designed to reveal the essential backstory of your characters; participants will benefit most if they have a story or essay idea in mind or in-progress.
No workshop experience required, although seasoned writers can expect to benefit as well.
Note: We will break one hour for lunch, then return for the final portion of the class.
Allison Alsup
NOWW co-founder Allison Alsup‘s debut novel, Foreign Seed, debuted in June 2024 from Keylight Books. Her stories have won multiple contests and her work appears in the O’Henry Prize Stories 2014 and Best Food Writing 2015. She regularly teaches workshops through NOWW and oversees their developmental editing services. Allison holds an M.F.A. in fiction from Emerson College.