Writing Co-Lab

Our stories stem from our obsessions, often mired in trauma or deep unresolved questions from our past. But it’s usually the case that unsettling, meaningful events are also the most difficult to describe. It takes an unflinching eye and sensibility to write scenes that capture the shock of a moment: the sharp physical details and the out-of-body disassociation that simultaneously occur. In this generative workshop, we’ll focus on balancing the clinical with the visceral and sensory, examining selected texts by Aubrey Hirsh, Fernanda Melchor, Shirley Jackson, Lindsay Hunter, Paul Bowles, Ira Levin, and Flannery O’Connor. For our first session, students should come prepared to discuss a short reading assignment (I’ll email a few days prior). In that session, we’ll introduce ourselves, review the course syllabus, and discuss the assigned text. We’ll also do a brief prompt-based write in class. Throughout the rest of this course, you’ll each have the opportunity to workshop two pieces in class, receiving supportive feedback from myself and your peers. We’ll delve each week into the mechanics of writing prose that, while dark and disturbing, illuminates some elemental truth about the complexity of the human condition. We’ll also examine how humor can both relieve and underscore tension in fraught scenes. You’ll leave the workshop with actionable critiques on four pieces of writing and a greater understanding of what makes a dark scene compelling, so you can effectively apply that knowledge in your work going forward.

Course Expectations
Students should be prepared each week for a reading assignment (approx. 10 - 15 pgs) and a writing assignment (2 pgs or 500 words). Be prepared to read aloud and screenshare your writing assignment on the weeks when your piece is scheduled for workshop, so that your peers can contribute to the discussion. I’ll also give every student a brief written critique on each week’s writing assignment.

Note: writers who might be triggered by disturbing content should consider carefully whether this workshop is suitable for them.

About the Instructor
Chin-Sun Lee is the author of the debut novel Upcountry (Unnamed Press 2023), listed in Publishers Weekly’s Big Indie Books of Fall 2023. She’s also a contributor to the New York Times bestselling anthology Women in Clothes (Blue Rider Press/Penguin 2014). Her work has appeared in Electric Literature, The Georgia Review, The Brooklyn Rail, Joyland, and The Believer Logger, among other publications. She has worked as an educator for Writers.com, as a moderator for Academic Coaching & Writing, and as a developmental editor for The Reading List Editorial. Learn more about her at www.chinsunlee.com. 

Student Testimonials

“Chin-Sun created a safe space for all class participants, helping to strip away insecurities so writing can flourish. Her assignments were always well thought-out and inspirational. The most powerful aspect of the class was Chin-Sun’s in-depth attention to each participant’s work. Her generosity and approachability exceeded anything I imagined. If you’re looking for a writing instructor who gives their all, Chin-Sun is the one!” –Lisa Sheldon

"Chin-Sun Lee is an incredibly encouraging and thorough instructor. Not only did she help me gain confidence in sharing my writing, her editing improved my conceptual and concrete writing skills. I would highly recommend her classes to anyone!” –Paula Ibieta, Contributing Writer @ Antigravity Magazine