Blog
The Art of the Propulsive Page-Turner: An Interview with Debra Jo Immergut
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 weeks ago
There's a secret that many MFA programs don't teach: even the most literary fiction needs narrative tension.
Debra Jo Immergut's novels You Again and The Captives prove that literary sophistication and page-turning propulsion aren't mutually exclusive.
As she prepares to lead her weekend intensive, The Propulsive Plot: Tools and Tactics for More Compelling Stories, Immergut brings decades of hard-won wisdom about the mechanics of narrative momentum.
She's the writer who failed spectacularly, dissected her failures with surgical precision, and emerged with a roadmap that actually works.
This isn't about writing formulaic thrillers: it's about understanding that every story, at its core, should make readers forget about sleep, meals, and the outside world. For writers stuck between brilliant ideas and fully realized narratives, Immergut offers permission to embrace plot without sacrificing art.
Here is our interview with Debra:
Writing Workshops: Hi, Debra. Please introduce yourself to our audience.
Debra Jo Immergut: Hi, fellow writers. I'm Debra Jo on the page, but everywhere else I'm Debra. I write short fiction, essays, journalism, you name it. Right now I'm focused on novels. I live in Western Massachusetts and work at Smith College.
Writing Workshops: What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
Debra Jo Immergut: Like many writers, I'm always coming up with ideas, but I've struggled to turn them into fully realized narratives. After failing a lot, I decided to teach myself how to construct a plot by dissecting the stories and novels I loved. I found that with careful study, I could catch even the most groundbreaking literary writers using a shared set of tools and making certain recognizable moves to create narrative tension—aka "page-turnability." These discoveries really helped me write my novels, and I'd never heard them talked about in my MFA program. I want to pass my findings on, and that's why I designed this class.
Writing Workshops: Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
Debra Jo Immergut: This course is designed to meet you wherever you are in your writing practice. By jumping on the Zoom, you've already made the courageous choice to focus on your work, and that's worth cheering, so I'm going to cheer you. The course content focuses on tools and strategies for constructing a story that moves and surprises. I give varied opportunities for discussion and questions, out loud and in the chat, in small groups and pairs. I'm a visual thinker and see many parallels between painting and writing, so you can expect to see slides livened up with a wide range of artwork. We'll have quiet time for idea generation and in-class writing. My favorite part is seeing writers get past their fears and presumptions about plotting and get excited as they uncover new possibilities in their work.
Writing Workshops: Who was your first literary crush?
Debra Jo Immergut: I guess I'd have to say Hemingway. His work seemed simple, like something I could do myself. Later, I found out he only made it look easy.
Writing Workshops: What are you currently reading?
Debra Jo Immergut: Favorite recent reads: North Woods by Daniel Mason and Claire Keegan's novels
Writing Workshops: How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
Debra Jo Immergut: For me, it's when I find a premise that seems so packed with mystery and potential that I just have to write it to find out what's going to happen. What keeps me going is my devotion to my characters. I get very attached.
Writing Workshops: Where do you find inspiration?
Debra Jo Immergut: Random gossip and scandal, plus memory.
Writing Workshops: What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
Debra Jo Immergut: I've received this bit of wisdom in many different forms, but I'll use Rilke's quote to sum it up: "Do not search for answers but rather love the questions." There's so much uncertainty in the writing process, from what's on the page to what happens to the finished work. When I'm able to surf the uncertainty and let go of outcomes, I do my best writing and get the most enjoyment out of it. And these days, I really want to enjoy myself when I write. Why do it otherwise?
Writing Workshops: What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
Debra Jo Immergut: For thoughts about creating art, I love Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files, not a book but a series of online letters. On writing, I often recommend The Last Draft by Sandra Scofield and A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders.
Writing Workshops: Bonus question: What's your teaching vibe?
Debra Jo Immergut: My vibe is all about making everyone in the group feel comfortable enough to get curious and stretch themselves. I really just want everyone to enjoy our time together and leave with an expanded sense of their own talents and vision.
Are you ready to transform your manuscript from a promising draft into a page-turner that keeps readers up all night? Debra Jo Immergut's approach isn't about abandoning literary ambition for commercial appeal—it's about understanding that the best stories honor both craft and compulsion. Whether you're struggling with a sagging middle, searching for your story's true engine, or simply want to inject more narrative momentum into your work, this weekend intensive offers practical tools you can apply immediately.
Join Debra for The Propulsive Plot: Tools and Tactics for More Compelling Stories and discover how to make your readers forget everything except turning the next page.
