Instructor: J.D. Hosemann
Genre: Narrative
Number of Sessions: 1
Meets:  10 AM – 1:00 PM CT
Dates: Saturday and Sunday, June 6 – 7, 2026
Where: Burnt Canoe Studios (4820 Banks St, New Orleans, LA 70119)
Cost:  $150/ $136 early bird until May 22, 2026.

– Two first come discounted spots for BIPOC students at $75 / $68 until May 22, 2026.

The word “conflict” gets thrown around quite a bit when it comes to writing fiction. We’re told that stories must have conflict, that little engine propelling the characters down the narrative path. But for many of us, the idea of simply inserting conflict can feel blunt or unnatural, especially in the early stages of writing when we’ve yet to discover the exact contours of the conflict driving our stories.

So we write blindly. We find voice or a bit of language that feels energized and we follow it. There’s no conflict, but we trust this voice is trying to tell us something, so we listen. We listen for something expressed but unsaid. In other words, we listen for tension.

The goal of this workshop is to sharpen our senses for detecting productive tension in the early stages of the creative process. To do this, we’ll conduct a few writing experiments, including exercises that draw on the lost art of postcard writing. We’ll also read work from contemporary writers who provide examples of how subtle tension blossoms into full conflict in a completed story. Finally, we will each produce a work of short fiction or nonfiction (less than 750 words) to be workshopped during our second session. Note: This story will be written outside of workshop on Saturday afternoon and evening and workshopped on Sunday. Students should be prepared for a weekend of writing.

This is a generative workshop and open to writers of all levels. There’s no need to bring story ideas or works in progress. Come with an open mind and a willingness to be surprised by what you create.

Written critique: Included in the cost of tuition is a written critique by the instructor of a story (up to 750 words) to be submitted by the student within one week after class.