Class Description

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. This class will be recorded and the recordings made available to all registered students. 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 storytelling and the struggle to write.