Novel Masterclass - Lan Samantha Chang

Instructor: 

Lan Samantha Chang is the author of The Family Chao, a winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Award for Fiction. A twenty-fifth anniversary edition of her first collection, Hunger: A Novella and Stories, was recently published by W.W. Norton & Company. She is also the author of All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost and Inheritance, which won the PEN Open Book Award. Her short stories have been published in Harper’s Magazine, The Atlantic and The Best American Short Stories. Since 2006, she has directed the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa.

Course Description:

This workshop is designed for people who are somewhere in the often-surprising process of writing a novel. It’s my goal to create a constructive and supportive novel writing community in which we will explore key aspects of the form and process. How does a novel differ from real life? What are the parts of a novel and what obstacles does each pose to the writer? What are some of the greatest pleasures and frustrations of writing a novel, and how are they specifically related to the nature of the form? What are some useful methods to keep track of a novel-in-progress, and how can we come to terms with our own habits of productivity?

Preparation:

Participants should send a chapter of up to 6000 words, as well as a one-page synopsis, by May 1, 2026 to admin.pww@wice-paris.org. Please include your masterclass name with your materials. Your classmates and I will read your manuscript in advance of our week together and be prepared to discuss our observations.

Agent Consultations: 

Available exclusively to participants who have enrolled in a masterclass, you can register for one or two agent consultations for an additional fee.  More information to come.

Cancellation Policy:

• Full refund through 15 April 2026 minus 100€ admin fee
• Half refund through 30 April 2026 minus 100€ admin fee
• Sorry, no refund possible after 30 April 2026

In the event of unforeseen circumstances, PWW reserves the right to replace an instructor.

Photo credit: © IfeOluwa Nihinlola