Fiction Writing Workshop

with Cyn Vargas

Top rated icon TOP RATED

5.0 | 18 reviews

94 Have Dabbled

ABOUT THIS EVENT
Event Category

Arts & DIY

Event Overview

Beginning Writers! Want to dabble in creative writing, but don't know where to start? 

Come learn technique AND get the creativity flowing. You will begin a story in class and learn how to continue it on your own. You do not need to come prepared with any story ideas. Just come with an open mind, trust the process, be prepared to participate and have fun. 


 

What to Bring

You'll be writing the old school way. Have paper and a pen handy. No writing on your laptop.

Minimum age

All ages welcome

What's Provided

Will send a follow-up email with links to stories I recommend.

What You Can Expect From This Experience
  • Learn about creative writing elements.
  • Start writing your own story.
Cancellation Policy
Location

MORE ABOUT YOUR HOST

Cyn Vargas

Top rated icon TOP RATED

Cyn Vargas’ short story collection, On The Way, received positive reviews from Shelf Awareness, Library Journal, Heavy Feather Review, Necessary Fiction, among others. Book accolades include: Book Scrolling's Best Short Story Collections of All Time, Newcity Lit’s Top 5 Fiction Books by Chicago Authors, Chicago Book Review’s Favorite Books of 2015, Bustle’s 11 Short Story Collections Your Book Club Will Love, and Chicago Writers Association 2015 Book of the Year Honorable Mention. Cyn's prose and essays have been widely published. She received a Top 25 Finalist and Honorable Mention in two of Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers Contests, is the recipient of the Guild Literary Complex Prose Award in Fiction, a company member of the award-winning storytelling organization 2nd story, on the Board of Directors for Hypertext Studio, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago.

EXPERIENCE REVIEWS

  • Default user photo
    Brian P.
    Reviewed on 01/23/15

    Cyn did an excellent job providing us with a quick education on flash fiction story mechanics. She created a welcoming environment and let us get writing. I got some great writing tips and a lot of practical information for submitting my works in the future. Loved the class and would gladly take another with Cyn.

    Cyn did an excellent job providing us with a quick education on flash fiction story mechanics. She created a welcoming environment and let us get writing. I got some great writing tips and a lot of practical information for submitting my works in the future. Loved the class and would gladly take another with Cyn.

  • Default user photo
    Franki Jo B.
    Reviewed on 11/20/13

    I had a really great time at the flash fiction workshop. If you are a writer like me, or not a writer at all, Cyn does a great job of reminding (or informing) you of the most important elements of writing. She takes time to break these all down and pin-points how they play a role in story telling. Trust in her process and you'll have a great time while learning your strengths and weaknesses.

    I had a really great time at the flash fiction workshop. If you are a writer like me, or not a writer at all, Cyn does a great job of reminding (or informing) you of the most important elements of writing. She takes time to break these all down and pin-points how they play a role in story telling. Trust in her process and you'll have a great time while learning your strengths and weaknesses.

  • Default user photo
    Lauren S.
    Reviewed on 11/20/13

    Cyn was great! Kept a great schedule and was very clear with how to go about writing fiction. I would absolutely take another class with her.

    Cyn was great! Kept a great schedule and was very clear with how to go about writing fiction. I would absolutely take another class with her.

  • Thumb jessica021 smaller
    Jessica S.
    Reviewed on 10/26/13

    Cyn was very prepared and friendly. I felt like the class was taught in a way that was not too intimidating! It was fun! I plan on attending other events with Cyn in the future!

    Cyn was very prepared and friendly. I felt like the class was taught in a way that was not too intimidating! It was fun! I plan on attending other events with Cyn in the future!

  • Default user photo
    Danielle P.
    Reviewed on 10/16/13

    Cyn is a talented writer and teacher! The warm up exercises and ability to share with others in the class are really wonderful. I am inspired to begin writing on a regular basis, and to be involved with CHI-PRC if possible! Thank you!

    Cyn is a talented writer and teacher! The warm up exercises and ability to share with others in the class are really wonderful. I am inspired to begin writing on a regular basis, and to be involved with CHI-PRC if possible! Thank you!

  • Default user photo
    Chris C.
    Reviewed on 09/26/13

    My experience was very positive. It was well worth my time. It was fast-paced but appropriately so. The instructor was well-prepared and focused. I also appreciated that everyone was on time, which made the class feel purposeful.

    My experience was very positive. It was well worth my time. It was fast-paced but appropriately so. The instructor was well-prepared and focused. I also appreciated that everyone was on time, which made the class feel purposeful.

  • Thumb yo
    Kimberly R.
    Reviewed on 09/20/13

    What a great two hours, Cyn is the perfect workshop teacher fostering a comfortable and creative environment. Thanks!

    What a great two hours, Cyn is the perfect workshop teacher fostering a comfortable and creative environment. Thanks!

  • Thumb screen shot 2017 10 25 at 10.07.18 pm
    Angie L.
    Reviewed on 06/21/13

    Good class, small size, personal feedback. Anyone with a pen and a few hours to spare should give it a shot!

    Good class, small size, personal feedback. Anyone with a pen and a few hours to spare should give it a shot!

  • Default user photo
    Carolyn S.
    Reviewed on 03/27/13

    Loved this class. She really knew what she was talking about and was very encouraging. Highly recommend!

    Loved this class. She really knew what she was talking about and was very encouraging. Highly recommend!

  • Default user photo
    Lynn S.
    Reviewed on 02/24/13

    The instructor got into writing exercises very quickly, and designed a highly interactive evening. The instructor provided encouraging feedback that helped us create thoughtful scenes by the end of the evening.

    The instructor got into writing exercises very quickly, and designed a highly interactive evening. The instructor provided encouraging feedback that helped us create thoughtful scenes by the end of the evening.

  • Default user photo
    Philip N.
    Reviewed on 02/22/13

    It was a small group that allowed very close coaching on our stories. When I joined I had no story, no idea ... really nothing to start with. A few questions and suggestions later I was off to create a story which I now want to finish, purely out of curiosity where it will lead.

    It was a small group that allowed very close coaching on our stories. When I joined I had no story, no idea ... really nothing to start with. A few questions and suggestions later I was off to create a story which I now want to finish, purely out of curiosity where it will lead.

  • Thumb me
    Ashish D.
    Reviewed on 11/16/12

    It was a really fun group of people from different walks of life with varying perspectives & each story that we wrote & told are something that I would love to read after the writers explore the different paths they could have taken with their characters. Cyn, the instructor, was great at explaining various styles & methods that you can use to make your story more interesting & communicate things without spelling them out. As someone with very little writing background, I was not sure how it was going to turn out but I had a blast!

    It was a really fun group of people from different walks of life with varying perspectives & each story that we wrote & told are something that I would love to read after the writers explore the different paths they could have taken with their characters. Cyn, the instructor, was great at explaining various styles & methods that you can use to make your story more interesting & communicate things without spelling them out. As someone with very little writing background, I was not sure how it was going to turn out but I had a blast!

  • Thumb profile photo placeholder
    Dabble Student
    Reviewed on 10/11/12

    Embracing the more creative side, making people come out of their shells and really think about how to create images and stories with their words.

    Embracing the more creative side, making people come out of their shells and really think about how to create images and stories with their words.

  • Show more
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