Kurt Dinan, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Library Writer-in-Residence by Margaret S. Hamilton

Cincinnati is one of the lucky few public library systems with a writer-in-residence program. Kurt Dinan, a member of the Mason HS faculty, will conduct writers’ workshops, speak at community events, host a podcast, and write a blog during his residency year.

I stumbled across a notice for Dinan’s monthly writers’ seminars, held at the Main Library in downtown Cincinnati. Intrigued by the topic of his most recent talk, “Plotters v. Pantsers,” I left my husband in the genealogy stacks and joined seventy-five other writers in the Tower Room.

Dinan has taught HS English and creative writing for twenty-two years. He published many horror short stories before his 2016 debut YA novel, Don’t Get Caught. During his talk, he gave a broad overview of the many virtues of plotting (he’s a self-professed “nuts and bolts” guy), including the hero’s journey and the Save the Cat! sheet. He discussed how to establish voice on the first page: after a great first line, something interesting happens that sets the stage for the rest of the novel.

I write my first drafts “by the seat of my pants,” before using organizational tools like scene lists on subsequent drafts. After Dinan questioned my ability to sustain coherent momentum for a 5,000-word short story or first draft of a novel, I explained that I write until I stall out, leave the draft simmering on the back burner for a week, and then return to complete it, before several rounds of revisions.

“Write what you know and be who you are. Find a process that works for you. Set a word count and finish the book.” All useful advice from an author who accomplishes his daily output from 3:30 to 5:00 a.m.

I enjoyed Don’t Get Caught. Dinan lives and breathes the high school environment, both as a teacher and father of four. He writes from the point of view of Maxwell Cobb, a clueless junior with a 2.5 GPA. Max and four classmates are sucked into a mission to take down the Chaos Club, a prankster organization at the high school.

Initially I resisted Max’s narrative voice as too mature for a sixteen-year-old:

“Rule #1 in any quality heist film is Don’t get caught. So I’m quiet as I slip out my bedroom window, cross the roof in the cool darkness, and drop from the garage onto the wet grass. Overhead, my parents’ lights may be off for the night, but this is a terrible idea any way you look at it. It’s stupid, irresponsible, and borderline suicidal. But I’m going anyway.” (p.1)

I soon became immersed in Max’s world as he battles Vice-Principal Stranko. Max grows and changes—he learns to trust the members of the Water Tower Five—and he rejects several opportunities to ditch the group and go straight. Dinan likes a fast-paced narrative. The last third of his book is a wild roller-coaster ride, full of the group’s ingenious ploys to foil the school administration.

Dinan ends Don’t Get Caught with Max identifying the instigator of the effort to take down the Chaos Club. Max is determined to match wits with this classmate during their upcoming senior year.

I look forward to reading the sequel, and attending Dinan’s upcoming seminars.

Readers and writers, does your library system have a writer-in-residence or writing workshops?