“There are no such things as stupid questions, only pretentious instructors.”
- Michelle’s teaching motto
1-on-1 Sessions & Manuscript Consultations Open for Winter!
Ready to receive detailed feedback on your writing? I’ve got limited slots open for January 2025. I’m eager to read what you’re working on! Though at times I provide feedback or editing on short fiction or essays, I typically work with people on longer-term projects, with a focus on fiction and memoir. Writing coaching sessions with me are like “book therapy.”
Writing The Novella:
Exploring Long-Short Fiction
Starts January 9th, 2025, online
The novella is a cool form of literature somewhere between a short story and a novel. Since it’s somewhere between the two in length, novellas often are somewhere between the two in their complexity as well. With novellas, we have a little more time to advance the plot and explore our characters, but not a whole lot.
So how do we take best advantage of our pages in the novella form?
In this six-week class, we'll look at outlines and excerpts from several novellas, and we’ll read three novellas in their entirety, looking at how they’re structured and what they do (and don’t do) that make them successful stories.
A Note on workshops:
We will not hold a typical workshop session in this class, but the instructor will provide written feedback on up to 15 pages of each students’ work then will tweak lessons to be as helpful as possible to each individual writer. Students will not be expected to read their peer work aside from the first page.
3-Month Short Story Intensive (workshop)
January 23 - April 10, 2025, Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (online)
Hosted by Literary Arts
Do you have a short story that is just not feeling right? You’re not sure what it’s missing or how to fix it? Or maybe you’ve got just the start of a story, or a vague idea and want to figure out how to write the rest.
In this combination workshop meets craft class, we’ll examine several short stories together and look at how those stories were made. With that inspiration, we’ll look at our own stories and figure out how to get unstuck and what kinds of tweaks our stories could use.
Course takeaways:
● Learn new short story writing and editing techniques
● We’ll look at your work and ask: Is there a more interesting or impactful way to say that?
● Receive 2 rounds of written feedback on one or two different short stories
● Complete at least one short story and get it spiffy for publication (if desired)
Each week you’ll receive optional homework for how to keep writing and editing in the days between our meetings. This class is meant to be fun, encouraging and productive. This class is designed for all levels.
EVENTS
Michelle’s novella’s book tour starts in March 2025. Click here for dates.
Interested in hosting Michelle at your organization, book store, or event? Please reach out to LFaulkner@bananapitch.com or contact Michelle directly.
Past Events
✜ The Banana Pitch Variety Show, Pitch on the Streets (current, ongoing)
Live interviews with authors, musicians and comedians
✜ Portland Book Festival - November 2024
Writing Workshop: Weird Asides: Incorporating Funny Tangents into Your Writing
✜ The Tomorrow Theater - September 2024
In Conversation with Brooke Totman about Sexy Life, Hello and conversations with Mattress,
Reptaliens, and Travis Abels
✜ Tin House - Bishop & Wilde Bookstore, July 2024
In conversation with Ananda Lima about her collection Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil
✜ The Stacks Bookstore, June 2024
In conversation with Tessa Fontaine about her novel The Red Grove
✜ Portland Art Museum, March 2024
Emcee, Best Music Video Showcase
✜ Tin House - Bishop & Wilde Bookstore, November 2023
In Conversation with Jennifer Fliss about her short story collection, As If She Had a Say
✜ Powell’s Books, September 2023
In Conversation with Nicola Griffith about her novel, Menewood
✜ Willamette Week Best New Bands Showcase, Emcee - June 2022
Creative Chats
A place where writers and other creatives can come together and talk about making art
How do you structure your day?
How do you make money (do you? do you want to?)
How do you reach your artistic goals (or set some?)
What’re you excited about? Etc!
Free for subscribers, which is only $5/mo. Excited to have you!
NEXT:
** Next date coming**
I’ll send all paid subscribers a Zoom link 1 week ahead, and 1 hour ahead.
Want Michelle to teach at your place?
Workshops
Michelle loves leading workshops for large groups or small.
Event Hosting
Michelle loves to emcee, including live interviews, show hosting, co-hosting…
Etc
Send a message about what you’re thinking!
Get Covered
Learn from a music journalist how to get press. We’ll review real (fictionalized) press releases and dissect what makes a good pitch. We’ll also cover all the stuff you should have on your website, social media and electronic press kits (EPK).
Class comes with downloadable templates for all of the above
What students are saying…
"Hands down - Best writing class that I’ve taken at LA."
— Literary Arts student
“Thank you Michelle. You have no idea how much this class means to me.”
— Portland Community College student
“I just wanted to say thank you, and share with you how you are bringing people together…I just wanted to be sure you knew. I think you are an excellent leader.”
— Portland Community College student
You’re a fantastic teacher! You make writing fun and accessible. All the mental and emotional blocks I’ve had dissolve because I’m busy have fun with the material. It’s amazing!!! Thanks for making a difference in my life. (sorry for being so gushy, but I get excited just thinking about this!)
—Portland Community College student
"Michelle Kicherer is a truly gifted teacher of writing! She usually started class with a very practical craft/style lecture based on short reading assignments - so fun and engaging to dig deep and consider each example-writer's way in the world! Michelle followed up with exciting and surprising in-class prompts that brought out the best in everyone. It was such a pleasure to see fellow classmates blossom in this creative and supportive environment. Each student discovered material they had no idea was inside of them. Michelle is disarming, charming, crazy smart and also very funny. Thanks Michelle!"
— Literary Arts student
“Michelle's Fiction Technique in Memoir class is thoughtfully, intelligently designed, and gracefully delivered. I have been in grad seminars where I have learned less. Small things she does throughout the class reveal her dedication to her craft (keeping notes on students' work, and tweaking the class material based on student feedback). She's the sort of teacher where you know you're just getting the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wealth of her knowledge. She offers kind but helpful feedback and starts class with thought-provoking, unique prompts.”
— Tasha S., Writing Workshops student
“If you're struggling with your memoir, I urge you to take a course with Michelle! We examined published memoirs, looked at what worked, what didn't and why. We examined our own memoirs with others in the group in a supportive and analytical process. Her suggestions about my work are tremendously helpful. Michelle is an insightful, humorous and thoughtful teacher. She's inspired me to write consistently, no easy task. Thank you, Michelle.”
— Karen K.
“I got exactly what I needed from Michelle's class! Through the reading and writing prompts discussed with the class, I was able to tackle my own writing project from all kinds of different angles I never would have thought of on my own.”
— Emily R., Writing Workshops student
“Michelle, thanks again and again. It’s been delightful to work with you and receive such helpful suggestions, skilled editing, and ongoing encouragement. You’ve fed my writing in more ways than you could ever know, or imagine.”
— Geri O., Litquake student
“Michelle, this has been the workshop which transformed my whole understanding of writing. I have so admired your gentle style (combined with your superpower insight and incredible edits!) I will definitely be in a future class of yours. I am so grateful to have been in this class.”
— Rob B., Writing Workshops student
Other recent classes
Note: I teach regularly at several schools & organizations. To stay in the loop on new classes subscribe to my newsletter (form below)
Fiction Technique in Memoir - Summer ‘24 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Intermediate Creative Writing, Spring ‘24 -SOLD OUT
Portland Community College
Beginning Creative Writing, Spring ‘24
Portland Community College
Beginning Memoir, Spring ‘24 -SOLD OUT
Portland Community College
Unblocking Writer’s Block, Jan ‘24 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Chapter 1: How to Write Openings, Jan ‘24
Hosted by The Attic Institute
The Writing, Editing, Writing Class, Jan ‘24
Hosted by The Attic Institute
Get Writing - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Prompts & Processes - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Fiction Technique in Memoir - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
The Novel Mapping Class - Spring ‘23
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Prompted: A Get-Writing Class - Spring ‘23 — SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
The Craft of Fiction (in-person) - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Fiction Technique in Memoir (In-person) - SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Literary Arts
4-Month Writing Cohort for Memoirists (Online)
Prompted: A Get-Writing Class - Winter ‘23 — SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Fiction Technique in Memoir (Online) - SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Generative Writing (online)
Hosted by Litquake
