“There are no such things as stupid questions, only pretentious instructors.”
- Michelle’s teaching motto
Manuscript consultations and 1-on-1 coaching
Ready to receive detailed feedback on your writing? I’ve got a couple slots left for April and May 2025 and am now booking Fall 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.”
Note: I do not work with writers who use AI as part of their process. Please see the button below for more details.
Fiction Technique in Memoir
Starts April 17, 2025
Thursdays, 4-6 pm PST / 7-9 EST
In this class, we will look at techniques for forming that story arc, for developing stronger characters and for writing scenes that will create an impact. We do this by applying some of the same storytelling and structural techniques that fiction writers use.
All new reading list!
This is a workshop class; each writer will have two opportunities for feedback on their work
Writing the Novella (workshop)
June 11 - July 16, 2025, Wednesdays, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. PST (online)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Back by popular demand!
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? How do we start a novella?
In this six-week class, we'll dissect outlines and excerpts from several well-loved novellas, and we’ll read three novellas in their entirety. This course has a workshop component, which is always optional and meant to be as helpful to you as possible. Each student is in a different stage of their novella project, so all levels of completion and experience are welcome.
Course takeaways:
How to start a novella with an immediate hook
What each of these three writers set up for and what the story delivers
How to structure a novella
What these novellas do (and don’t do) to make them successful stories
How to brainstorm a new novella (or how to determine what you might be missing)
How to start, climax, end and edit a novella
Advanced Fiction Workshop Intensive
A 6-week in-person class with Literary Arts for intermediate to advanced short story writers looking for feedback and craft dissections.
May 20 - June 24, 2025, Tuesdays, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
New class by student request! This is a workshop class, with the opportunity for two rounds of feedback on your work.
Feel free to email me with any questions about this workshop!
Course Takeaways
● How to pinpoint what a story is about
● What each of our three short stories set up for and what that story delivers
● What these stories do (and don’t do) to make them successful
● How to start a story with an immediate hook
● How to apply “workshop-minded” tools to edit your stories
● Learn how to use writing prompts to practice editing and writing techniques
Creative Chats
A place where writers and other creatives can come together and talk about making art. For example:
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 paid Substack subscribers, which is only $5/mo, or $20 a head for drop in folks.
NEXT:
Friday, April 11 at 3 pm PST
I’ll send the Zoom link 1 week ahead, and 1 day ahead of our chat. Hope to see you there!
EVENTS
The first leg of the SEXY LIFE, HELLO book tour was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out.
MORE BOOK TOUR DATES
March 31, PORTLAND — On the Banana Pitch Variety Show
Alberta Street Pub — Early Bird tickets here
April 10 — PORTLAND — Literary Arts — with Portland Radio Project Executive Director and Producer, Veronica Bistesti!
7 pm — Link here!
April 26 — PORTLAND — Bold Books
5 pm — With Emme Lund, author The Boy with a Bird in His Chest
Interested in hosting Michelle at your organization, book store, or event? Please reach out to LFaulkner@bananapitch.com or contact Michelle directly.
Past Events
✜ March 14 — Live interview on the Portland Radio Project, 99.1 fm or streaming at prp.fm
✜ March 4, PORTLAND — Co-launch with Portland author Bristol Vaudrin to celebrate the release of Bristol’s debut book, Afterward at The Old Portland
✜ March 6 — SAN FRANCISCO — Green Apple Books in conversation with writer and translator Achy Obejas
✜ March 8 — OAKLAND — Clio’s — in conversation with musician Madeline Kenney
✜ 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
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…
I found my voice in Michelle’s class. Finally, I found my voice.
— G.T., Portland Community College student
"Hands down - Best writing class that I’ve taken at LA."
— Literary Arts student
"Michelle Kicherer is a truly gifted teacher of writing! 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.
— Tasha S., Writing Workshops student
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
If you're struggling with your memoir, I urge you to take a course with Michelle! 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.
Michelle, thanks again and again. It’s been delightful to work with you and receive such helpful suggestions, skilled editing, and on-going encouragement. You’ve fed my writing in more ways than you could ever know, or imagine.
— Geri O., Litquake student
Michelle, you have no idea what this class means to me. Thank you.
— M.G., Portland Community College 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 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
