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Genre fiction is the despised child of literature. Its tightly defined structure, popularity, and seemingly "easy-to-write" voice don't get much respect. The fact of the matter is that genre fiction -- especially the medical thriller -- is both an excellent training ground for other types of writing and a legitimate genre in its own right. It uses complex writing strategies, important cultural anxieties, and speaks to an interesting cross-section of readers. I admire writers who stand with one foot in the world of "literature" and the other in popular literature. It's a trick worth learning, and we'll use the medical thriller to learn the basics of fiction writing.
The strategy is simple: learn to write by . . . writing. You'll discover that planning a novel is a real part of the process, and you'll learn basic writers' tricks to make your prose snap to life. We'll use the tools I use when writing, and by the end of this seminar, you'll be co-author with about 10 other writers of a substantial manuscript. So set aside your tortured genius, forsake your mistaken notion that creativity is an inward, private journey . . . and inhabit the tension that makes the writer's desk such a demanding and rewarding site.
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