November at the Academe
A quick look at the Academe classes coming up next month.
ARE WE THERE YET? TOURISM DURING THE REGENCY WITH LOUISA CORNELL
In the years between 1780 and 1840 tourism by the people of England shifted dramatically due to two main factors—the Romantic movement and the Napoleonic Wars, which prevented a great deal of travel to the Continent. The emerging middle classes and the upper classes visited instead coastal seaside resorts, picturesque natural landscapes, historic spa towns, and the newly emerging industrial sites.
Whilst young men went on the Grand Tour (war and politics permitting) young ladies and families wandered the hills of the Peak District or the shores of the Lade District memorializing their trips with drawings, souvenirs, and collections of shells and flora. Trips with themes such as churches, castles, or country houses and gardens were also popular. Young professional men and especially bachelors enjoyed exploring the wilder areas of Wales and Scotland, especially if fishing was involved. This course will endeavor to cover the major and some minor tourism destinations, the basic shape these holidays took, the costs and amenities, and the role the explosion in the publication of travel journals and guidebooks played in encouraging the people of Regency England to explore the manmade and natural wonders of their own land.
Registration closes November 11, 2026
THE WICKED, WEIRD, AND WILD SIDE OF SETTING WITH TRACY FORGIE KOPPEL W/A LLEWELLA FORGIE
Why do the craft books make such a fuss about the setting if we sometimes find them boring?
Do your descriptions make the reader only feel they are standing in the setting, or do they also show your character’s quirks, expertise, and emotions? Does your setting do triple duty by intentionally changing the pace of your story?
In this class, we’ll look at how great writers have used setting to make a scene immersive, how other great writers have used setting to show a character’s quirks or expertise. We’ll also look at examples of how setting is used to show a character’s emotion. Finally, we’ll look at examples that are using setting for multiple purposes, all at once. Tight, effective writing!
Optional homework will allow students to apply lessons to their own writing and get feedback from the instructor and/or other students.
Registration closes November 11, 2026
