Live Seminar Via Zoom Saturday, March 7th, 2026

Class will meet 12PM - 5:00PM EST

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Taught by Karen E. Bender, author of two collections: Refund, which was a Finalist for the National Book Award, shortlisted for the Frank O'Connor International Story Prize, and Longlisted for the Story prize, and The New Order, which was Longlisted for the Story prize. A new collection is forthcoming. Her novels are Like Normal People and A Town of Empty Rooms. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Ploughshares, Zoetrope, The Yale Review, The Harvard Review, Story, Guernica, and others, have been reprinted in Best American Short Stories and Best American Mystery stories and won three Pushcart prizes.

Get to know Karen in our Meet the Teaching Artist series.

In this day-long generative workshop for writers of all levels, we'll read openings to stories by authors including Raymond Carver, Jamaica Kincaid, Miranda July, Jhumpa Lahiri, and more.

We’ll work to identify different types of openings in an effort to understand how writers create urgency that carries the reader through a short story or a longer work of fiction. Using carefully constructed writing exercises, we’ll practice these different types of openings in class, with the hopes of honing our ability to write effective beginnings that precisely suit the stories we want to tell.

Writers will leave with several new story starts to use as launchpads for future writing, as well as the ability to think more strategically about how the beginnings they may have already written are serving their work.

Note: The week of the seminar, Karen will email several PDFs of the stories we'll be discussing--you don't need to read these before the class, but can if you would like.

Can't Make It Live?

No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

Understand how beginnings affect the pacing of stories.
Several new story beginnings to use as the inspiration for future drafts.
Think strategically about past drafts and learn how to make your previous beginnings more dynamic

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

We'll be going over the different types of story openings in class, and then writing generative exercises to practice these methods. Students should come to class ready to write and will have opportunities to share work if they would like. They will leave the class with a variety of story openings, and an understanding of a variety of techniques a writer can use to open a story.

TESTIMONIALS:

"This seminar exceeded my expectations. I loved going through the different types of story openings that exist and then seeing clear-cut examples of each from the materials that were shared in class. Karen is a fantastic facilitator!" -Alexandra Y.

"Class was excellent and exceeded my expectations. I found Karen's approach of writing an opening that set up two questions extremely valuable. Five of five stars." -Diane K.

"I though Karen gave great input on our exercises. I would highly recommend this seminar! I learned so much." -former student

"The best part about the Exploring Strategies for Story Beginnings seminar with Karen E. Bender were her insights, warmth, generosity, intelligence and the categories for types of story beginnings she presented to us. Karen is a wonderful instructor, and I've taken all of her seminars." -former student

"The close reading of the texts was extremely valuable. Karen is a great teacher, and I though this was a great seminar on strategies for story beginnings." -former student

"I found Karen's teaching so valuable. She dives right in and I love her style. I signed up for her other seminars after I took this one. Thank you!" -former student

"In her seminars, Karen always offer such specific techniques, which has helped me deepen my understanding of craft and benefited my writing practice. Thank you!" -former student

"Karen's class taught me invaluable writing techniques that I missed because I have a JD instead of an MFA. This was so great! Thank you, Karen!" -former student

"I loved the structure of understanding various story openings and emphasis on goals for first paragraphs. This class definitely exceeded my expectations." -former student

"It was great. I was working on a rewrite, came to the realization that I needed more interiority, saw this class, jumped on it, and I've already used some of the techniques. The concepts and ideas that were coupled with good, well-paced exercises." -former student

"This class helps all levels of writers get better access to the all-important matter of characters. Highly recommend." -former student

"What a fantastic person! I liked her style, her content, and her drive for us to get the most out of 2 hours. Karen really pointed out a fantastic technique and her enthusiasm is infectious. I just wanted more time with her!" -former student

"Exceeded expectations. Lots of content, practice, plus interaction packed into Zoom." -former student

"Karen E. Bender's Strategies for Story Beginnings seminar exceeded my expectations! Karen is an excellent teacher: she is patient, explains all her materials well and provides valuable examples and feedback. I really enjoy how Karen runs her courses. This is the second of hers I've taken, and I plan to take more. In fact, I recommended Karen's classes enough after the first one I took that a friend joined me for this one. Thank you again!" -former student

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

Live Seminar Via Zoom on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Can't Make It Live? No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $150. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. These options are available at checkout.

Instructor: Karen E. Bender
Live Seminar Via Zoom on Saturday, March 7th, 2026
12PM - 5PM EST
Can't Make It Live? No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.
Tuition is $150.

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this seminar.

Master Classes Taught by Karen E. Bender

Exploring Strategies for Story Beginnings with Karen E. Bender 1-Day Fiction Master Class (Zoom), Saturday, March 7th, 2026