What makes an opening unforgettable? How can an opening compel a reader to continue? In this workshop for WRA students, we’ll analyze famous openings and experiment with our own. Through discussion and writing exercises, we’ll explore how a strong beginning sets tone, builds intrigue, and draws readers in. We’ll start with a 30-minute discussion on what makes an opening work, followed by small-group workshops with hands-on writing guidance.

Featured Authors:

• Seth Borgen - Originally from Hudson, Ohio, now residing in Akron and teaching Creative Writing, Borgen writes in vivid prose with unconventional structures that explore themes of isolation, longing and the complexities of modern life, often set in Ohio.
• Anne Raeff - The daughter of WWII immigrants, Raeff explores themes of displacement, identity and the lasting impacts of war through her writing and teaching.
• Lori Ostlund - Originally from a small Minnesota town, Ostlund explores the nexus of place and identity in her stories, probing themes of class, desire and the pervasive violence confronting women and the LGBTQ+ community.
• Iheoma Nwachukwu - Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Nwachukwu draws from a diverse career including professional chess, sales, advertising and kindergarten teaching, to explore themes of identity, migration and the complexities of life in Nigeria.