The Cherry Hill library has offered a wide variety of educational programs and classes for residents of all ages for years.
One such program is the Novel Writing 101 class, a 10-week series that aims to help those interested in writing and publishing a novel create stronger stories, prose and characters.
Ty Drago – a novelist, editor and publisher – teaches the class.
“I retired,” he said. “I became a full-time writer, yeah. And you know what you can’t do for eight hours a day is write, so you have to look for other things. I like to teach.”
Drago has instructed the adult novel-writing class for seven years. He also runs a six-week, short fiction- writing class and has done a number of seminars for children.
His class is the first of its kind at the library that is free. Drago focuses on different elements of writing week to week, using lecture notes displayed via slideshows and writing exercises to help participants better understand the topics at hand.
Drago goes over his five rules for writing: write; finish what you write; edit what you write; submit your writing for publication; and then, go write something else. One class exercise involves taking a long passage and shortening it while keeping the same tone and vibe.
“Vibe is very internal,” Drago explained. “It’s not about what’s out here, it’s about what’s inside the character … The point of view is tight and you are inside and feeling everything they (characters) are feeling.”
Another class assignment is to write 100 words in a way that conveys a broad image to the reader or writing the same length with more emphasis on detail.
Drago said this year’s class averages about 18 people a week. Since it takes place over 10 weeks, each class does not always draw the same set of students, though some are consistent participants. It also helps with things like outlining the books students want to write and coming up with milestones.
Drago also goes into detail on the difference between show versus tell and when to use each.
“Tell gets a bad rap,” he noted. “Tell has its place … if you’re writing a short story for an anthology that has a limit of 1,500 words, and you’re at 2,000 and you gotta cut off a quarter of that story. You start looking at the shows versus the tells.”
Showing the audience something often takes up more words than telling it. Students are encouraged to read their writing – both from home and with in-class exercises – aloud for the rest of the class to hear. Drago then critiques the passages, telling students what they did well and what they need to work on.
He emphasizes the importance of having a “first read,” the first person to read a work other than the author, and specifically mentions how necessary it is that that person be willing to be honest.
The end portion of the class is set aside for the attendees to split into groups and share their ideas and what they’ve been working on. Drago helps when they have questions or want feedback on their work.
