A smiling young woman with glasses is featured in the foreground, with a cityscape and cranes visible in the background, all overlaid with text announcing a writing workshop.

Asian American Writers' Workshop

**Context Profile for Asian American Writers' Workshop**

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - The Asian American Writers' Workshop (AAWW) is dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of Asian American writers and artists. Their mission is to provide a platform for storytelling that reflects the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, fostering a creative community where these voices can be heard and celebrated. They aim to challenge the underrepresentation of Asian American narratives in mainstream media and literature.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - **Events:** AAWW hosts literary events, readings, and workshops that feature Asian American writers and artists. These events serve as a space for dialogue and cultural exchange.
   - **Publications:** They publish original work through their online magazine, "The Margins," which includes essays, fiction, poetry, and interviews.
   - **Fellowships and Mentorships:** The organization offers fellowships and mentorship programs to emerging writers, providing them with resources and support to develop their craft.
   - **Community Programs:** They engage with the community through educational programs and collaborations with other cultural organizations.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of AAWW is professional yet warm and inviting. It is inspiring and supportive, emphasizing community and the importance of storytelling. Their language is inclusive and often highlights the urgency of supporting diverse voices in the arts.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization does not prominently use emojis in their formal communications, such as on their website or in campaign materials. Their communication style leans more towards traditional and professional formats.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** The AAWW was founded in 1991.
   - **Scale:** The organization operates on a national scale, with a significant online presence that extends its reach beyond physical events.
   - **Impact Metrics:** They have supported numerous writers through their fellowships and have published a wide array of works that contribute to the visibility of Asian American narratives.
   - **Volunteer Info:** While specific volunteer information is not detailed, the organization likely relies on community support and engagement for its events and programs.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Style:** Use clear, inclusive, and engaging language that reflects the organization's commitment to diversity and community. Avoid overly casual language; maintain a tone that is respectful and acknowledges the cultural significance of their mission.
   - **Structure:** Content should be well-organized, with a focus on storytelling and the impact of their programs. Highlight personal stories and testimonials where possible to illustrate the organization's impact.
   - **Call to Action:** Encourage community involvement and support through donations, event participation, and sharing of content. Emphasize the importance of sustaining the arts and supporting underrepresented voices.

By adhering to these guidelines, AI-generated content can effectively reflect the values and mission of the Asian American Writers' Workshop, fostering deeper engagement with their audience.

LXCL:Register by June 30, 2026 and receive $100 off the full tuition price. Registration includes participation in six (6) group classes.

Early Bird Pricing

LXCL:Registration includes participation in six (6) group classes.

Tuition

&ldquo;First sentences are doors to worlds.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash;Ursula K. Le Guin That&rsquo;s exactly what a first sentence does: It opens. It grabs. It lunges. Sometimes, it screams. In this course, we will uncover what makes a memorable first sentence that captures and holds hostage the reader&rsquo;s attention. Every story starts with a sentence: a combination of words that casts a spell upon the reader. In this class, you will be asked to notice phrases you encounter in your everyday life that glitter, that crackle, that feel charged with first-line energy. You&rsquo;ll analyze what attracts you to a first sentence, whether it&rsquo;s a compelling hook, beautiful language, a strong sense of voice, etc., and you&rsquo;ll read examples of first sentences to learn what patterns and strategies authors have used in the past to reel in their readers. Finally, in this generative course, you will write many, many first sentences that you&rsquo;ll be able to use as springboards for your own writing projects. We will be reading first sentences and excerpts by the likes of Gabriel Garcia M&aacute;rquez, Ha Jin, George Saunders, Jesmyn Ward, Alain Mabanckou&mdash;and your classmates. By the end of this course, you will have a bank of first sentences to draw from, a hall full of doors to expand into worlds. Six-Week Course Outline&nbsp;Session I &ndash; The Plot Twist: We&rsquo;ll examine first sentences that start normally, then suddenly careen in a completely unexpected direction. These subversive, whiplash-inducing sentences generate momentum that keeps you reading. In the latter half of each session, we&rsquo;ll write and workshop sentences of our own.Session II &ndash; The Most Unbelievable Thing: One of the most common and effective ways to begin a story is to start with the most unbelievable thing. No throat-clearing or table-setting&mdash;just straight to the weirdness of it all.Session III &ndash; The Gnomic Mood: This is a grammatical mood used in some of the most iconic first sentences of all time, favored by writers from Jane Austen to Leo Tolstoy. We&rsquo;ll talk about what this mood is and why it works so well for first sentences.Session IV &ndash; The Voice: Ever start reading something and immediately fall in love with the narrator&rsquo;s voice? In this session, we&rsquo;ll study first sentences that instantly immerse us in a unique perspective, and we&rsquo;ll discover how to make that magic happen in our own work.Session V &ndash; The Unconventional: Sometimes, a sentence is just so strange, beautiful, or otherwise unconventional that it demands one&rsquo;s attention. This week, we&rsquo;ll explore sentences whose distinctiveness and peculiarity keep the reader hooked.Session VI &ndash; The Rest of It: Congratulations&mdash;you&rsquo;re now a certified expert on first sentences! Now you just have to write&hellip;the rest of it. In our final class, we will explore how to continue writing from your first sentences and develop the critical skill of ensuring that the momentum from the first sentence carries through the rest of the work. About the InstructorBaylina Pu graduated from Yale in 2023. Her work has been published in Michigan Quarterly Review Online, New Ohio Review, Black Warrior Review Online, The Yale Literary Magazine,&nbsp;Dirt, and more. She received her MFA from Columbia University, where she was awarded the Felipe De Alba Fellowship, and her writing has been nominated for Best of the Net. She has taught for Columbia University and The Center for Fiction and currently teaches at Gotham Writers Workshop.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for the workshop, The First Sentence.<p fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; width: 768.25px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; width: 768.25px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Details for your class, including login details, will be sent prior to the first session. We look forward to learning with you!<p fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; width: 768.25px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; width: 768.25px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Best,The AAWW Team

“First sentences are doors to worlds.”  —Ursula K. Le Guin That’s exactly what a first sentence does: It opens. It grabs. It lunges. Sometimes, it screams. In this course, we will uncover what makes a memorable first sentence that captures and holds hostage the reader’s attention. Every story starts with a sentence: a combination of words that casts a spell upon the reader. In this class, you will be asked to notice phrases you encounter in your everyday life that glitter, that crackle, that feel charged with first-line energy. You’ll analyze what attracts you to a first sentence, whether it’s a compelling hook, beautiful language, a strong sense of voice, etc., and you’ll read examples of first sentences to learn what patterns and strategies authors have used in the past to reel in their readers. Finally, in this generative course, you will write many, many first sentences that you’ll be able to use as springboards for your own writing projects. We will be reading first sentences and excerpts by the likes of Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Ha Jin, George Saunders, Jesmyn Ward, Alain Mabanckou—and your classmates. By the end of this course, you will have a bank of first sentences to draw from, a hall full of doors to expand into worlds. Six-Week Course Outline Session I – The Plot Twist: We’ll examine first sentences that start normally, then suddenly careen in a completely unexpected direction. These subversive, whiplash-inducing sentences generate momentum that keeps you reading. In the latter half of each session, we’ll write and workshop sentences of our own.Session II – The Most Unbelievable Thing: One of the most common and effective ways to begin a story is to start with the most unbelievable thing. No throat-clearing or table-setting—just straight to the weirdness of it all.Session III – The Gnomic Mood: This is a grammatical mood used in some of the most iconic first sentences of all time, favored by writers from Jane Austen to Leo Tolstoy. We’ll talk about what this mood is and why it works so well for first sentences.Session IV – The Voice: Ever start reading something and immediately fall in love with the narrator’s voice? In this session, we’ll study first sentences that instantly immerse us in a unique perspective, and we’ll discover how to make that magic happen in our own work.Session V – The Unconventional: Sometimes, a sentence is just so strange, beautiful, or otherwise unconventional that it demands one’s attention. This week, we’ll explore sentences whose distinctiveness and peculiarity keep the reader hooked.Session VI – The Rest of It: Congratulations—you’re now a certified expert on first sentences! Now you just have to write…the rest of it. In our final class, we will explore how to continue writing from your first sentences and develop the critical skill of ensuring that the momentum from the first sentence carries through the rest of the work. About the InstructorBaylina Pu graduated from Yale in 2023. Her work has been published in Michigan Quarterly Review Online, New Ohio Review, Black Warrior Review Online, The Yale Literary Magazine, Dirt, and more. She received her MFA from Columbia University, where she was awarded the Felipe De Alba Fellowship, and her writing has been nominated for Best of the Net. She has taught for Columbia University and The Center for Fiction and currently teaches at Gotham Writers Workshop.

Asian American Writers' Workshop

The First Sentence: A Craft Workshop with Baylina Pu

18 W 21st St #900

Tuition

$600

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