Teen Summer: Reimagining Fairy Tales & Rewriting Archetypes

***This class will be hosted remotely! You'll receive an email from your instructor about 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin with a Zoom link. There is no need to download or sign up for Zoom in advance!***

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Class Description:

Do you sometimes wish that things turned out differently for the heroines of your favorite fairy tales? The original versions of Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and other classic fairy tales are some of the scariest stories ever written. But even the happy Disney versions leave much to be desired in terms of how women, queer people, and people of color are portrayed. That’s why contemporary writers today are writing their own identities into retellings of class fairy tales, creating work that pushes back against oppressive structures. In this class we’ll look at classic fairy tales and learn about the idea of archetypes — like the wicked stepmother, the damsel in distress, or the lost little girl — and experiment with rewriting them in ways that more accurately represent ourselves and the worlds we’d like to see. We’ll retell original fairy tales in new ways, or write entirely original, fairy-tale inspired stories based on what we read in class. We’ll check out some original fairy tales, and read contemporary ones by writers like Nalo Hopkinson and Lily Hoang. And we’ll workshop our stories, receiving peer feedback on our drafts. This class is open to fiction writers. For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY. This class was previously listed as, Radical Fairy Tales.

Takeaway:

Students will come away feeling empowered to retell classic stories in ways that resist dominant structures and include their own hopes and identities.

Zoom Accessibility:

Online Class Format--Sustainability and Community:

Based on student suggestions and to offer writers a sustainable learning experience, this YAWP weeklong provides a balance of craft sessions and exercises with plenty of optional components so that teens can take screen breaks as needed. 

Each morning session will feature a craft talk or group exercise with your designated instructor, and in the afternoon you’ll have optional and lowkey meetings that could consist of:

• Q&A chat with your writing instructor
• Group writing with music
• Reading party
• Movie viewing followed by a chat about craft
• Writing games
• Open mic/sharing

Students are encouraged to self-advocate, opting out if they are fatigued or diving in if they want more creative activity. Either way, instructors will always be available to answer questions via email and/or Zoom chat!

Registration Instructions:

• If the student is under 18, parents/guardians must complete this permission form online. You only need to fill this form out ONE TIME, NOT for every class. If you cannot remember whether you have already filled it out, please email [email protected] and we will check for you! If you do not complete this form, your registrations could be voided and the cancellation policy will apply.
• If the student is 18, simply let us know by emailing [email protected].
• If you are registering on behalf of a student, add their email in the “For a Friend or Child?” field on the right-hand side of the screen at check out. This will send them a direct link and reminder to create their own profile with GrubStreet.
• Please register with your preferred name :)

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***If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected]. We’re looking forward to writing with you this summer!***