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
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.