The Magic and Mechanics of Imagery
Northwestern Summer Writers’ Conference

From Rick Bass’s lyrical descriptions of ice in “The Hermit’s Story” to uncanny fertility dolls in Lesley Nneka Arimah’s “Who Will Greet You at Home,” images, when done well and consciously shaped into a pattern, can make a story unforgettable and mysterious. In this prose session, we’ll explore the mechanics behind the magic, including how to use images to structure your narrative, to transition in time and space, and to modulate setting, pace, and voice. We’ll study the works of several image-driven stories (and poems). We’ll also write our own pieces, attempting to pull something altogether unexpected from our magician’s hats.

All levels welcome. Visit conference web site for registration. (Also available for manuscript consultation.)