Amitava Kumar
is the author of several books of fiction, including the novels My Beloved Life; Immigrant, Montana; and A Time Outside This Time (all Knopf). His nonfiction books include The Blue Book: A Writer’s Journal (HarperCollins) and Every Day I Write the Book: Notes on Style (Duke University). He teaches at Vassar College.
Master Class
Amitava Kumar
Online
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Yes, Voice, Of Course, But Damn. It’s Structure That’s Key.
Writers are always being asked to work on voice. It is seen as the best way to find one’s authentic writerly self. Sure. But what really makes any piece of writing work effectively is a strong or inventive structure. After a breezy introduction to varied examples of the uses of voice, this Master Class will be devoted to an examination of different uses of structure in nonfiction (Janet Malcolm, David Grann, John McPhee, John Berger, Claudia Rankine) and fiction (William Maxwell, Amy Hempel, Jennifer Egan, Sheila Heti, Yiyun Li). Participants are encouraged to bring their own favorite examples so that an efficient list can be compiled at the end. Also, please consider in advance the oft-quoted line from Jean-Luc Godard: “A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end, but not necessarily in that order.”
Saturday, February 22, 2025
3:00-5:00pm ET
Online on Zoom
Where are the Master Classes and workshops located?
Currently, all Master Classes and workshops are held online on Zoom or Google Meet.
I registered but did not receive a link. What do I do?
Details for your class, including any reading assignments and the Zoom link, will be sent one week prior to the start date—to the email account connected to your registration. Please confirm the email with which you register is accurate. Please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with any questions.
Can I receive a recording of a past or upcoming workshop or class?
No. The only way to attend a Master Class or workshop is live.
Is closed captioning available?
Yes. Otter.ai live notes are available for all Master Classes held on Zoom and Google Meet, and on a case-by-case basis for workshops. (If you are signed up for a workshop, please discuss closed captioning with your instructor.) To view the notes, look for the red LIVE dropdown menu in the top left of your Zoom screen and select View Stream on Otter.ai.
Are scholarships available?
Scholarships are available for all Master Classes. Scholarships are not currently offered for workshops. To apply, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the subject “Master Class Scholarship Application” and include 1) a short statement outlining your interest in this class, and how a scholarship would benefit you as a writer or a reader; and 2) a short bio. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.
The Master Class or workshop I want to join is sold out. Is there a waitlist?
Yes. Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to be added to the waitlist for an upcoming Master Class or workshop.
I signed up for a class but can't make it. Can I be refunded?
Full refunds are offered if requested at least two weeks prior to the start date of the class. After that, before the start date, we are able to offer a 50% refund. We cannot refund day-of cancellations, and we cannot refund or partially refund tuition once the class has started. Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you need to cancel your registration.
But I signed up for a class after the cut-off point for a full refund had passed. Can I still be eligible for a full refund?
No. Please be aware of our cancellation policy upon registration.
I'd like to transfer my registration to someone else. Is this possible?
Yes. That is very generous of you! Please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your enrollment in an Academy class, please let us know as soon as possible. We can only offer full refunds if you cancel two weeks prior to the start of class. After that, before the start date of class, we can offer a 50% refund. We cannot refund day-of cancellations, and we cannot refund or partially refund tuition once the class has begun.