Angela Jane Fountas

Bio

I write, teach, and run WriteHabit.org. I'm also a volunteer at 826 Seattle. You can read some of my stories here: Diagram, elimae, Monkeybicycle, Pindeldyboz, Syntax. I am working on a collection of short stories and recently received awards from 4Culture, the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and Jack Straw in Seattle. For more about my path as a writer, see my artist résumé.

Teaching-and-learning philosophy

Writing by rules is like wearing a straight jacket; you need to be free to tap your true voice. There is no right way to write, and no one can tell you "how to" write a story or novel. I believe that most writers learn to write by writing and via osmosis, i.e., by reading and discussing other writers' work. A love of language is also necessary, and faith in the creative process is essential to cultivate along the way. These beliefs guide my teaching.

I encourage students to throw any rules they've heard about writing out the window and to know the elements of fiction inside and out instead. Characters can be seen, heard, or felt; tense and point of view can shift within a story; plot can be thick, thin, or absent; language can be spare or lush. Pretty much anything goes as long as you can make it go for your reader.

My classes focus on learning to read as a writer to speed up osmosis, which is done by studying the elements of fiction in action (character, point of view, plot). We also look closely at style (language, syntax, punctuation) and structure (paragraphing, shifts in pov or tense, narrative design).

The aim of workshops is to help you strengthen your unique voice and style. The approach we take when reading/discussing classmates' work is the same approach we take when reading/discussing established writers' work: looking closely at the elements, style, and structure of each story.

I also emphasize the importance of a writing habit, the writing process, and the creative process.

Questions? Send an email to afountas[at]writehabit[dot]org.