University of Iowa

Kelly Dwyer

Kelly Dwyer is a graduate of The University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the author of two novels, The Tracks of Angels and Self-Portrait with Ghosts, and two children’s books; her monologues and short plays have been produced in Madison, Boston, and New York. She grew up in California and lives in Baraboo (near Madison), Wisconsin, where she teaches creative writing part-time, does freelance manuscript editing, and is working on a novel, more plays, and flash fiction inspired by the Disney Princesses at middle age. Visit her online at www.KellyDwyerAuthor.com.

Instructor Events

Writing the Popular Novel (In Any Genre)

Weekend June 22 to June 23 2019
Instructor(s): 
Kelly Dwyer

No matter the genre in which you’re interested—literary, science fiction, paranormal, young adult, romance, etc.—you would probably think it ideal if your novel had many readers. If it attracted buzz. If it were, in other words, popular. In this weekend workshop, we’ll discuss the elements that make popular novels (across genres) so popular (according to bestseller lists and computer algorithms), and do exercises on various elements of the novel, such as character, plot, pacing, theme, style, etc., to increase the odds that your own novels will be widely read.

Five Elements of the Novel

Weeklong June 23 to June 28 2019
Instructor(s): 
Kelly Dwyer

While there are numerous elements of a novel, it would be difficult—if not quite impossible—to write a successful novel without these five elements in particular: plot, character, dialogue, point of view, and theme. And while of course the elements intertwine, we’ll spend one day focusing on each of them, discussing how to develop each one deeply and successfully in our novels, and doing in-class writing and exercises.

Plotting the Novel

Weeklong July 14 to July 19 2019
Instructor(s): 
Kelly Dwyer

W. Somerset Maugham has said that there are three rules to writing a novel but that, unfortunately, no one knows what they are. We might safely assume though, that one of these rules might have something to do with plot: Maybe we should have one in our novels? Maybe it would be helpful to plan the plot out ahead of time? In this weeklong workshop, we’ll do various exercises to help us develop and deepen our plots.

Flash Fiction in a Flash: Writing (And Submitting) Publishable Flash Fiction

Weekend July 20 to July 21 2019
Instructor(s): 
Kelly Dwyer

Flash fiction is fiction that tells a story in a flash—anywhere from six words (“For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never worn.”—attributed to Hemingway) to a thousand words. In this workshop, we will discuss what flash fiction is and what makes it so interesting, we’ll study and discuss some examples, and of course, we’ll complete exercises and assignments, writing some flash of our own that will surprise even its authors!