This is a fiction writing workshop for students who want to focus on crafting complex, believable characters. Since good writing is entwined with the art of reading closely, we’ll study and discuss fiction by great writers such as Richard Wright, Sandra Cisneros, Dennis Lahane, Elizabeth Hand and Anzia Yezierska, and put their techniques to use in writing assignments. Stories, in one way or another, always reflect the world of the writer, not only through subject matter, but also through matters of style — diction, phrasing, rhythm. We’ll study how these writers use fiction to shine a light on issues of class, race and gender, and, in doing so, we’ll pay special attention to aspects of storytelling: building tension, constructing character, creating a voice. To inspire ideas and experiment with different strategies, students will write weekly exercises that can be used to craft a longer piece. Working in conversation with master writers, students explore the context and form of their own fiction. This Riggio Writing & Democracy Honors course is open to all undergraduate students.