The view from Le Sirenuse

Since 2007, along with my mentor, author Dani Shapiro, and her husband, the screenwriter Michael Maren, I’ve been organizing a writer’s conference called Sirenland. A beautiful name, but even more beautiful is the spot where it takes place: Le Sirenuse Hotel in Positano, Italy. Our 2010 conference has just ended. Our Sirenlanders have flown back to their homes across the world. This year we were lucky to have master storytellers Jim Shepard and Ron Carlson teaching workshops along with Dani Shapiro. We also had a visit from One Story author Nam Le, who gave an excellent reading from his award-winning collection, The Boat. Other highlights, beyond the amazing view, exquisite food, and steam room (where I went everyday to try and clear a badly-timed cold) was a reading by Dani, Jim, Ron and our 2010 Sirenland fellow, Bruce Machart, whose first novel, The Wake of Forgiveness, will be published this fall. But my favorite evening was open mic night, generously hosted by the owners of the hotel, Carla and Antonio Sersale, at their home, where nearly every Sirenlander got up and shared a bit of their work around the fireside. There were even a few songs, and a play, where I was cast as a sadistic babysitter (I was killed by the children in the third act). It takes an enormous amount of work to put this conference together, but as soon as I arrive each year in Positano, it feels like coming home. This group of strangers, each struggling with their own writing, anxious and a bit jet-lagged, quickly comes together and forms a supportive community.

Palm Sunday in Positano

For the first time, I stayed in Positano for Palm Sunday, and witnessed a wonderful tradition. Instead of palm fronds, people carry olive branches, decorated with candy, small cheeses, salami, and even loaves of bread. The priest blesses them in the square, and after mass, the villagers break off branches and hand them out to friends, sharing the bounty. A simple act, but a lovely one. All of us at Sirenland this year went home with our own bits of branches, given to us by Antonio, Carla, Michael, Dani, Ron, Jim, Bruce and our fellow writers, covered with insights, inspiration, memories and new friendships. I can’t wait for next year to come.

This 10 week class will include workshopping, craft talks, close editorial work, and exercises to strengthen the practice of writing. Sessions will last for 3 hours, where I’ll be illustrating how to find the heart of a story, as well as how to pinpoint its weaknesses. Each student will leave the class with a greater understanding of revision and a game plan for the next step in their writing career.

The deadline for this class is April 2nd. Go here to find out more details, and sign up! Spaces are going fast.

At long last, I’ve decided to try an open, intensive 5 day workshop. Details are below. The class will be limited to 10 students, max. If anyone is interested, they should email info (at) hannahtinti.com with a brief statement of purpose, telling me what your writing project is, and what you hope to get from the class.

Intensive fiction class with One Story co-founder and editor in chief Hannah Tinti

This intimate, 5-session class will include a workshop of each student’s fiction, craft talks, close editorial work, and one on one individual meetings. Sessions will last for 2 1/2 hours with Tinti illustrating how to find the heart of a story or novel, as well as how to pinpoint its weaknesses. Each student will leave the class with a greater understanding of revision and a game plan for the next step in their writing career.

Hannah Tinti is co-founder and editor-in-chief of One Story magazine, a journal that has helped launch the careers of writers across the country, and for which Hannah recently won the 2009 PEN/Nora Magid award for her editorial work. Her short story collection, Animal Crackers, has sold in sixteen countries and was a runner-up for the PEN/Hemingway award. Her novel, The Good Thief, is a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, recipient of the American Library Association’s Alex Award and winner of the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize from The Center for Fiction.

Class will meet in 5 sessions, Feb. 24-Feb. 28, 2010:

Wednesday, Feb. 24th, 6:30-9 pm
Thursday, Feb. 25th, 6:30-9 pm
Friday, Feb. 26th, 6:30-9 pm
Saturday, Feb. 27th, 2:30-5 pm
Sunday, Feb. 28th, 2:30-5 pm

All Classes will take place at the Brooklyn Creative League (540 President Street, btw. 3rd & 4th ave. Brooklyn, NY).

Cost: $750 Includes workshop, lectures, a six-month subscription to One Story magazine, and one-on-one meetings for each student with Hannah to set goals and discuss individual projects.

To apply, send a brief statement of purpose to info (at) hannahtinti.com