Courses

In successful fiction, characters live within a tangible world. That world is made of objects—their surroundings, tools, possessions, and keepsakes—all revealing who they are and what they value. Every item a writer places on the page offers a chance to shape setting, develop character, and heighten emotional resonance. In this course, we’ll examine how master storytellers such as John Cheever, Brandon Taylor, Ann Beattie, James Baldwin, and Lorrie Moore use objects to create meaning and build momentum. Each class will begin with a short lecture, followed by close discussion of the readings and a related in-class writing exercise to be shared for oral feedback. Students may use these exercises to develop existing projects or start something new. By the end, participants will have a portfolio of scenes, sketches, and dialogue excerpts demonstrating the power of objects to make fiction feel real.