Teaching Philosophy
I have been blessed with wonderful students of all abilities, many of who have gone on to publish in semi-pro and pro markets. As a writer, I feel that it’s important to constantly be searching for ways to improve my craft. I hold with this belief in my writing instruction, which is why I favor an in-depth, inquisitive critique style. I believe that as long as a student is open to the possibility of improvement, there is always something new to learn.
Participant Endorsements
“[The workshops] have been amazingly generative experiences, which have inspired me to write much more than I’d anticipated. I now have a little folder of about six stories from just 12 weeks of workshopping, all of which I can either consider submitting or rework for some other purpose. I feel that you offer an amazing service, and that a HUGE part of the success of your venture is you: your passion and insight, your warmth and commitment to everyone in your courses. Your boundless energy and enthusiasm, and your deep insight.” — N. A. Sulway, author of “The Frog’s Prince; or, Iron Henry,” Interzone.
“I love working with Carina and the Storied Imaginarium. The courses are carefully crafted, a blend of creativity and academia that makes a perfect storm for writing thoughtful, smart speculative fiction. The class format supports constructive criticism that helps me analyze my strengths and weaknesses as a writer, while pushing me to expand my horizons and write outside my comfort zone. More than that, Carina has in-depth knowledge of the various markets for speculative short fiction which she uses to help us revise our work. I am positive that without the Storied Imaginarium, I would not have the publication credits I have today. I look forward to our next class together!” — Claire Eliza Bartlett, author of “The Velvet Castles of the Night,” Daily Science Fiction.
“Carina is a great teacher—insightful, resourceful and empathetic. It was Carina who encouraged me to get my stories out, even when they’d rather skulk in the corners of my brain, then revise and send my work out to publishers. She helped me think critically about my characters, plot, setting, and everything [else] that makes a story. I can’t wait to work with her more in the future.” – Daniela Tomova, author of “Behind Her, Trailing like Butterfly Wings,” Apex Magazine.
“Carina Bissett is one of the most energetic and enthusiastic workshop leaders I’ve ever seen. Her generous reading, sharp eye for detail, and prolific knowledge of both fairy tales and publishing make her an ideal teacher for novice and practiced writers alike. I heartily recommend any writing program with her at the helm.” – Julia K. Patt, author of “Whatever Tower, However High,” Escape Pod and “My Dear, Like the Sky and Stars and Sun,” Clarkesworld.
“Carina’s classes are intensive and illuminating. I’m impressed with her extensive knowledge of myth and fairy tales, as well as her insightful and kind critique. Plus, there’s lots of writing involved. Highly recommend!” – KT Wagner, author of “3-D Monarch” in Happily Ever After, “Slipped Stitch” in Dead of Winter, and “Grandma Heloise” at Daily Science Fiction.
“There are three great things about having Carina as a teacher. First, she’s knowledgeable. She knows what markets will take what story, how to go about selling that story, and what needs to be done to get to that point. Second, she knows how to get to that point. She can look at a story and immediately know what feedback to give. I always feel like I have a direction to go after workshopping with her. Third, she has a creative imagination that leads to some amazing prompts and insight. I always felt like I was looking into a deep cave that kept going every time she explained something to us. She opened our brains to new ways of thinking, and that’s really important when it’s a class about fairy tales. If you want to take your writing to the next level, Carina is a teacher you need to work with.”— J.R. Dawson, author of “Nozizwe and Almahdi,” Escape Pod.
“I have now had the pleasure of taking two courses taught by Carina Bissett. The content of her courses was well thought out and very detailed. Carina’s comments were both insightful and constructive, and very detailed. I recommend any course taught by her without reservation.” –Leslie Wibberly, author of “A North Wind,” First place in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Annual Competition, genre category.