Peter Orner
is the author of eight books, most recently the novel The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, named a best book of 2025 by The New Yorker and The Chicago Tribune. He’s the author of three story collections, including Maggie Brown & Others, and has been called “a master of the short story” by The New York Times. His collection of essays, Am I Alone Here?, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, and his second non-fiction book, Still No Word from You, was a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, A Public Space, The Paris Review, The Atlantic, Harper’s, Granta, and received four Pushcart Prizes. He teaches at Dartmouth College and lives with his family in Norwich, Vermont, where he’s a volunteer firefighter.
Master Class
Peter Orner
Online
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Vivid Opening Scenes
You know how Joyce’s “The Dead” begins? With Lily getting nearly swept off her feet by the guests rushing into the party? Or how James Crumley’s “The Last Good Kiss” opens with a drunk bulldog slurping beer at a bar? Okay, the second one isn’t as famous, but I’ve always been drawn to stories that don’t mess around with any throat clearing, that start in motion and put us immediately into a living, breathing moment. In this master class, we’ll read, examine, dissect, argue about, even act out if people are game multiple examples of vivid opening scenes of stories, ranging from Joyce to Crumley to Fernanda Melchor to Gabriel García Márquez to Penelope Fitzgerald to Ralph Ellison to Natalia Ginzburg to William Kennedy, and many more (as the examples keep popping into my head), with an eye toward how these scenes create crucial momentum as the stories continue…
Thursday, August 6, 2026
7:00-9:00pm ET
Online on Zoom
Where are the master classes and workshops located?
Currently, all master classes and most workshops are held online on Zoom.
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 write .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you would like to be contacted at a different email, or with any additional 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 on a case-by-case basis for workshops. (If you have registered for a workshop, please write .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to request closed captioning.) 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 and afternoon talks. Scholarships are not currently offered for workshops. To apply, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the subject “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. Refunds are not offered for day-of cancellations, or after a workshop has started. To cancel your registration, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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 the 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).
Does the registration fee for in-person workshops that are part of Spring at Kaatsbaan cover accommodation and/or travel to Kaatsbaan?
No. The registration fee for Spring at Kaatsbaan in-person workshops only covers the cost of attending the workshop. If you do not live locally, the Weekend Writers’ Retreat with A Public Space in the fall may be a better option for you.
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.