Fiction Workshop: Bending Worlds
ENGLISH CBW
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Julio Cortázar: “The fantastic breaks the crust of appearance … something grabs us by the shoulders to throw us outside ourselves.” This workshop will explore the art of writing literature that unsettles our understanding of reality, that splits open the world as we know it, allowing us to encounter new possibilities. The initial weeks will focus on exploratory exercises and the study of published short stories and craft essays. Later, student work will become the primary text as the focus shifts to workshop discussion. Authors on the syllabus will likely include Ken Liu, Julio Cortázar, Jorge Luis Borges, Carmen Maria Machado, Angela Carter, and Octavia Butler. This workshop welcomes writers of all levels of experience.
Class Notes
Admission by application only. For information on specific application requirements and instructions, please see the full course listing on the English Department website.
DEADLINE: For all Fall 2026 workshops, applications will open by Monday, March 23 and are due via Submittable by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 5. Students will be notified of admissions decisions by 4:00pm ET on Thursday, April 9, and must accept/claim their seats within 24 hours. Workshops will meet the first week of classes.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
