About
REGISTRATION CLOSED Dates: 2 Saturdays, September 13 - 20 Time: 10am - 12pm (Pacific Coast Time) Format: ZOOM Ages: Adult Have you ever looked at a great opening and thought: how do they do that? If so, this class is for you! Together, we’ll sample a wide range of irresistible first paragraphs and reverse-engineer them. What makes them sing? How does the author use a startling image, a particular voice, or a question to hook the reader? These questions will guide us as we move through close-reading exercises together, deconstructing how masters of the craft effectively deploy voice, imagery, tension, and stakes in the first beats. We’ll then take the time to work on openings of our own, experimenting with different narrative lenses to see how each alters the momentum. Students will come out of the course with at least 6 polished story openings, a personal ‘first page checklist’ for writing lines that hook the reader, and strategies for injecting fresh purpose into their work. Whether you’re revising a manuscript or starting a new short story, this class will give you the confidence and the craft know-how to make your lines leap off the page. All levels and backgrounds welcome. 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.