Dana Spiotta
is the author of five novels, most recently Wayward (Knopf). She has been shortlisted for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award in Fiction, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize, the St. Francis College Literary Prize, a Creative Capital Award, and the John Updike Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She teaches in the Syracuse University Creative Writing Program.
Master Class
Dana Spiotta
Online
Saturday, October 18, 2025
This class has already happened.
Novel Structure
In this Master Class, we will be discussing the architecture of novels and other long work. Some of the questions we will address: How can structural decisions (both macro and micro) create meaning or help build a system of meaning? What should we pay attention to while we write (and read)? At what point is it useful to think about the overall form of a longer project? What can organizing principles, constraints, or conceits do, and what are the pitfalls? How do writers create an organic and meaningful form for the duration of a novel, and how to avoid becoming overly schematic?
In the second half of class, we will do some close readings of novel openings and how they might contain the DNA of the novel that follows. Participants may bring a favorite opening sentence from a novel for the class to discuss. If you prefer to bring your own opening sentence, that works as well. We will also have time for your questions about writing a novel.
Saturday, October 18, 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.