About
Dates: 4 Tuesdays, April 7-28 Time: 7-9pm (Pacific Coast Time) Format: In Person at Left Margin LIT Ages: Adult Class Description: If you write fiction, chances are you’re familiar with the five-point story structure: inciting incident, rising action, climax, denouement, and resolution. But have you ever considered their role in the story? In this course we will examine each element in depth: what is the job of the opening page? What does it mean for action to escalate? Why is a quiet denouement necessary after an explosive climax? Along we way, we’ll dive into the questions that puzzle many writers, such as how to construct stories in which nothing dramatic happens, and why endings are so much harder to write than openings. A perfect blend of theory, engaged reading, and generative writing, the course aims to provide participants with a strong understanding of a story structure, while also setting aside time to generate new material. Short informative lectures will be supplemented with readings from Jhumpa Lahiri, Sarah Braunstein, Jamel Brinkley, and others. Participants will have the option to share a new or revised short story draft for peer and instructor feedback. LEFT MARGIN LIT'S CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY: If you find that you can't take a class for which you registered, you may request a refund, less a $25 administrative fee, at least 48 hours prior to the start of the first class session. After that threshold, refunds are not possible. If a class doesn't reach its minimum enrollment, it will be cancelled, and all students will receive full refunds.