A One-Night Short Course from the Writers’ Annex
What differentiates a personal story that engages a few from one that garners a wide audience? Craft and structure certainly play their roles, but what are other qualities that make a reader flick the page, a listener to keep those earbuds in?
Perhaps one essential aspect is that the reader feels included. Even as they are drawn into a narrative larger than themselves, that narrative also feels personal—they become participants in the events being unfolded. Which brings us to craft. In this course we’ll take a look at this intersection: how the granular necessity of such things as point of view, building scene, “show” vs “tell” converges with the power of making a story not only about oneself, but about those who’ll read it.
Register Here
Register for the 2026 Season Pass
Register for all four one-night courses only: Spring 2026 Collection
Dates & Times: Online Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Main session runs from 4 pm-6 pm (Pacific) with optional discussion group to follow.
Note: For those who are interested, an intimate Zoom discussion group (Virtual House) will meet immediately after each the session.
Readings
Handouts will be posted online and shared via email prior to the first session.
Sands Hall
Sands Hall is the author of the memoir Reclaiming My Decade Lost in Scientology (Counterpoint). Blackstone Audio produced the audio book, read by the author. Other books include the novel, Catching Heaven (Ballantine), a Random House Reader’s Circle selection and Willa Award Finalist (Woman Writing the West); and a book of essays and exercises, Tools of the Writer’s Craft. Her stories and essays have appeared in such journals as Alta, New England Review, Iowa Review, and Los Angeles Review of Books. Professor Emeritus at Franklin & Marshall College, she lives in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada. www.sandshall.com
What to Expect:
- One, two-hour session online. The group can be large, depending on the course.
- In the first hour, Hall presents in a lecture-style format.
- In the second half of the session, widening the discussion as she addresses questions and comments submitted in the chat.
- Optional small (8-10 person) discussion groups will be available to those with the energy and interest after the formal session is over.
- The session will be recorded, and will be available for later viewing by registered participants for at least 30 days following the final session.
Tuition:
- Early Bird Tuition is $54. The Early Bird Deadline is Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
- Standard Tuition is $60.
- Limited financial aid available. Please contact us if needed.
- Season Pass and other packages available here. (link coming soon)
Register Here
Register for the 2026 Season Pass
Register for all four one-night courses only: Spring 2026 Collection
The Writers Annex
Online, and year-round, The Writers’ Annex is composed of short courses, seminars, workshops, and more. Our vision is to bring the creative insight and experience of our staff poets and prose writers to our community in all seasons, not just in the summertime, and not just here in our Valley. Our online offerings will address such topics as eco-poetics, translation, and generative sessions. Some will be one or two days, some will be weekend intensives, and some will meet weekly for a month or two. In addition, we hope these offerings will help offset the tremendous expenses we face as an organization for our traditional in-person events in Olympic Valley. Join our Mailing List