Class Description

Here's a discounted way to take all 3 of Steve's classes this February. Class #1: How to Write Riveting Scenes - February 5. The key to any unforgettable work of prose resides in the quality of its scenes. In this class, we’ll look at some of the best scenes ever written and investigate what it takes to write a scene that serves your plot, reveals your characters, escalates tension, and keeps the reader on the edge of her seat. Class #2: A Wrinkle in Time: Managing Chronology - February 12 One of the central struggles in storytelling is that human beings are, in essence, time travelers. We live in the past of our memories and the future of our hopes. Thus, when we tell stories, we often shuttle around in time. This can be exciting, but more often it winds up confusing the reader, and (in my case) the writer. In this fast-paced seminar, we’ll unravel the mysteries of chronology by looking at the work of such masters as Cheryl Strayed, Meg Wolitzer, and Natasha Tretheway, and help writers figure out how to tell their stories in a way that thrills their readers. Class #3: Funny is the New Deep: The Comic Impulse Contrary to popular belief, writing funny doesn’t mean sacrificing depth. On the contrary, for most literary writers, the comic impulse is inextricably linked to tragedy. It’s not a conscious effort to entertain the reader so much as an unconscious effort to face some tragic moment or realization. In this class, suitable for both fiction and nonfiction writers, we’ll look at the work of comic masters such as Lorrie Moore, Simon Rich, and Samantha Irby, in an effort to learn how you can be funny and break hearts while doing it. All 3 sessions will be recorded and the recordings made available to all registered students. Please note, we will be skipping February 19 to make a total of 3 sessions. Attendees will receive a unique Zoom link on the morning of each session. Instructor bio: Steve Almond [stevealmondjoy.org] is the author of twelve books of fiction and non-fiction including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football. His novel All the Secrets of the World, was published in Spring, and is in development by 20th Century Fox TV. He is the recipient of an NEA grant for 2022. His short fiction has appeared in the Best American Short Stories, the Pushcart Prize, and Best American Mysteries. His essays have appeared in the New York Times Magazine and elsewhere. His latest book, Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow, is about