Love monsters? Live in the Seattle area? This Labor Day weekend I’ll be teaching a six-hour creative writing workshop dedicated to the monstrous. Details:

September 2, 2018, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
University District, Seattle

Monsters have been with us from the very beginning. They figure prominently into the folklore of virtually every culture on earth, and have been a fixture of written fiction as far back as the Epic of Gilgamesh. Storytellers throughout history have striven to create beasts that are both unexpected and unusual. But how can the modern author put a unique spin on a classic creature, or even more challenging, create a fiend that feels truly original?

Obligatory Goya

This workshop explores our fascination with the monstrous — from the mythical animals of fantasy to alien races in science fiction, and the sinister demons and spirits that haunt the horror section. You will learn how to draw on everything from medieval bestiaries to modern biology in order to, as Byron put it, “give a breath to forms which can outlive all flesh.” Whether your creation becomes a terrifying villain, an inhuman hero, or simply a part of the fauna of your world is ultimately up to you, but this workshop will ensure it’s as believable as it is strange.

Register here!