Comments from Past Students

Fiction Writing: Take Your Characters to Dinner

Now that I’m done with her course, I feel that I have a better sense of balancing narrative, dialogue and emotion.  Through her gentle prodding, I feel ready to take the next step – write my novel." ~ Maureen Marty, Longmont, Colorado  

"As to an evaluation of the course: what did I get from it? Your expert commentary has been invaluable. It has helped launch me from the tenuous steps of a wanna-be writer into the purposeful gait of one who confidently knows that she is a writer. Whatever faults and weaknesses I came with into the course have been addressed and many corrected. It is an ongoing process for all of us, I know. Whatever strengths I may have had have blossomed under your direction. Laurel, it is obvious to me that your deep love of writing is very present in your contact with your students. It is infectious.

Could the course have been better? Hmm, not unless you would have let me pitch a tent in your backyard and let me run through your kitchen door every time I had a question. But, really the structure and sequence of the class assignments are excellent in leading the student writer to their best work. And, although most of us would probably love to send you 50 pages every chance we might, I understand the brilliance and necessity of limiting our words to one page. It makes our writing tight. It makes us focus on the elements asked for. If I can write every page of my book the way you asked me to write each assignment, then I know I'll be able to call myself a professional." ~ Mandi Isaacson, Oshkosh, WI

"I absolutely loved your book. The different elements that were put into play made the reading and study compelling. And Georgina is an ingenious device. She is quite lively and creative. And makes her point well.

Also, I felt your comments were insightful, to the point, and pushed me to improve my writing. It's been a very rewarding learning experience.

I very much enjoyed working with you and hopefully will be able to do more so in the future." ~ Rosalie LaRocque, Madison, WI

"From the very beginning, I like Dr. Yourke's manner. Even though this was an email based course, Dr. Yourke's style came through. I was encouraged from the beginning and continued on, chapter after chapter, and writing like crazy.

I have learned something other than how to write a story. I learned that the knowledge of writing, in a mechanical way, plus reading fiction was a good start. But, like icing on a cake, the piece de resistance is the teacher, especially one with skill and patience for a beginning like myself.

I know that I had this in myself. I know that I had good training on the mechanics of writing, and God knows that I did plenty of it at Rutgers. But to bring out the art, the desire to write a good story requires that too rare skill of a good teacher. I believe that Dr. Yourke is that." ~ David Capuano, Princeton Junction, New Jersey

"Thank you for your support, critiques, and guidance throughout your course, 'Take Your Characters to Dinner.' My lessons learned have helped me to achieve the first two goals that I had established when deciding to take your course: it broke down my own barriers to becoming a committed writer, and it has also helped me provide more effective support for the young writers at my school. Your critiques were invaluable as you insisted that I cut the intellectual crap and write so that the reader stays in the scene. I will continue to listen to the forthright 'Laurel" critic that has moved into my head, although I must tell you that I am not ready to let you go from my computer. I would like to take several more writing courses from you, so I will keep an eye on the web site for upcoming offerings. I also wonder how I will manage without your feedback as I continue to work on my deconstruction of Beowulf.

You are a gifted mentor, Laurel. I am thankful for the words we have shared." ~ Emily Perkins, Sacramento, CA

"I am blessed to have found your site at a crucial moment, a small window of opportunity. So, the flexible nature of the offering was key for me. One can participate slowly or with great, frantic leps as time permits. So, I consider TYCTD as a mind gym. And that makes you the personal trainer for you prose. Thank you, again, for providing structure and lightening quick feedback for the anxious beginner. Perhaps the stretching exercises will become my permanent antidote for writer's block. Just open the book to any chapter finale, stab a blindfolded finger at the page and proceed..." ~ Amanda Killham Davis, Monona, WI

"I recommend the course 'Take Your Characters to Dinner' for any writer. Taking the class is not an ordinary experience. It is like gaining a wise inner voice. This voice, speaking through your normally stupid computer, nudges you gently but firmly to new ground." — Kurt Moberg, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

"Laurel, I have taken numerous writing classes, read a copious amount of books and articles about writing, but none has been as well structured and educationally beneficial to me as 'Take Your Characters to Dinner'. Your book is my writer’s reference bible! It has a place of honor next to my computer. I greatly appreciate the organized format that is fun and not boring. The chapter titles tell me what I am going to get, the section headers tell me where I am going, the Check Lists tell me what I have done and Looking Back, Then Ahead and Stretching Exercises help me reflect and proceed with more knowledge and confidence." (—Sheila Glazov, Chicago, IL
Author and educator of books and programs for families)

"I learned a great deal from this course. As an extremely rusty (it had been 20 years since my last attempt) fiction writer, I had a lot to learn. The book taught me what I didn't know before about the importance and duty of each part of fiction writing, including how each of the parts combine to make something larger than the sum of those parts. The exercises urged me to do what I'd never done before - create characters (which is great fun!), develop dialogue, play with point of view and more. When I submitted the exercises, your quick response always kept my motivation up. Perhaps most importantly for, your comments and suggestions taught me what I already knew; your responses almost always reflect what I had suspected in my writing. Each exercise I did, though I edited as much as I could, had parts that I felt were awkward, weaker or perhaps superfluous. Your responses echoed my feelings (albeit sometimes vague) about those sections. What I take away from this experience is that I can trust my intuition (and my improving skills) when I am editing my own work. And that, Laurel, is the true work of any teacher –giving the student the confidence in his own ability to carry on. That is what you and this course have given me. You have done a teacher’s true work!" — Andi Leis, past student

UW-Madison Continuing Studies | Classes | Services | Register | About Us