On the second day of his writing class at Northwestern, “Memoirs of a Geisha” author Arthur Golden began by telling his 14 students not to apologize before reading their descriptive writing pieces aloud. Clad in jeans, Golden offered them decaffeinated coffee, hot chocolate and marshmallows in the classroom in Kresge Hall. He already knew his students’ names and encouraged them to speak up without raising their hands.

Golden joked with his students throughout the lecture. When he drew a diagram to explain the relationship between drama, film and fiction, he said, “I’ve copyrighted this beautiful diagram,” which elicited laughter from his students.

This kind of friendly exchange is what his students say makes them comfortable around such a successful writer.

Golden is teaching “The Art of Fiction: Weaving Together the Elements of a Story” this quarter. His class will focus on narrative structure, fictional technique and the construction of narratives.

“I was intimidated by the fact that he’s this super-famous author,” said Jamie Poslosky, a Communication junior and one of Golden’s students. “I didn’t know if he’d be kind of a jerk or a great professor. It turns out he’s wonderful.”

The Center for the Writing Arts brings a prominent professional to campus each quarter as part of the Writer-in-Residence program. Past writers have included Alex Kotlowitz, author of the best-selling “There Are No Children Here,” and award-winning poet Eleanor Wilner.

Golden’s 1999 best-selling novel tells the story of a geisha working in Kyoto, Japan before World War II. The film based on the novel won three Oscars in 2005.

Golden emphasized the importance of specific details in writing fiction.

“Focus sharply on the vividness and take everything else out,” Golden told his class. “We want the reader’s mind to come alive.”

Some students said they applied to the class to learn Golden’s technical approach to fiction. Golden hand-picked his students from the 53 who submitted applications in Winter Quarter.

He told his students he won’t be grading their creative work or comparing their writing.

Golden initially wanted to write an informative book on Japan. Instead, he took the advice to write a fiction novel that incorporated his knowledge of Japanese culture, which he studied in college and graduate school. While working in Japan, he met a geisha who inspired him to write his novel.

In the time he spent with her, Golden asked her general questions about the life of a geisha as background for his fictional geisha character.

Golden taught writing at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Cambridge, Mass., in 1996. This is his first teaching job since his book gained fame. He is also working on his second novel, which will be about the meat-packing industry.

NU’s reputation and proximity to the University of Chicago, where Golden’s son is a student, brought him to campus this spring. Golden said he loves teaching and is excited to be here.

Students say they are equally enthusiastic about their class with Golden.

“He’s clearly really knowledgeable about what he’s doing,” said Maura Cullen, a Weinberg freshman. “I’m excited every day to go to class.”

Reach Alissa Dos Santos at [email protected].