WORKSHOP | MONDAY, JULY 13 | 3–5 PM | FREE
¡escribamos juntos!
Trope and Cliché Workshop—for genre fiction and beyond
Folks had an amazing time at the first session of our Summer Latinx Writing Community, and now it’s time to shift gears from poetry into genre fiction and beyond in our second workshop at FUSION | The Cell on Monday, July 13, from 3–5 PM. Join us for Trope and Cliché Workshop led by John Hardberger.
Workshop Description
In this workshop, we'll demystify narrative by examining the conventions and tropes that make stories work, the clichés that make readers lose interest, and all the fine lines in between. Through discussion, research, and generative writing exercises, we'll explore how stories are constructed, how reader expectations are both met and subverted, why genres exist, and whether we want to bother with them in the first place.
Workshop Led by John Hardberger
John Hardberger is a Texpat writer, editor, and DJ living in New Mexico. He is an MFA candidate at the University of New Mexico and an alum of the 2025 Clarion Writers Workshop.His fiction straddles the mundane and the weird, exploring the liminal spaces, between identities, cultures and landscapes. His work has appeared in Helicon, Chicago magazine, and Edible New Mexico, and he once held the hotdog beat for the Chicago Tribune.
ABOUT SUMMER LATINX WRITING COMMUNITY
Introducing our Summer Latinx Writing Community! Whether you're working on a novel, writing poetry, drafting essays, journaling, or just looking for a reason to put words on the page, you're welcome here!
Born from a desire to connect local writers, the Summer Latinx Writing Workshop Series is the newest step toward nurturing a lasting creative community in Albuquerque. Special thanks to Horizon Review staff, Jas Colorado, for fostering connections among the writing community in Albuquerque through this new initiative.
Centering Latinx voices, histories, and experiences while welcoming participants of all backgrounds, the series provides a supportive environment for writers to develop their craft and find community through the written word.
Through writing prompts, discussion, peer feedback, collaborative learning, and dedicated co-writing sessions, participants will have opportunities to generate new work, strengthen their creative practice, and build accountability alongside fellow writers.
Creating a supportive, culturally grounded space for Latinx writers to develop their creative voices through collaboration, community, and storytelling. ¡Escribamos juntos!