The Power of the Narrative List

From inventories to data entry to daily planning, lists–and acts of listing–are not often connected with creative writing. When considered as a creative form, however, each list tells its own story, from the to-do list a character makes during a particularly stressful week (why is that week so stressful?) to a person’s grocery list (are they planning a party, or a week of cooking-for-one?). Lists can also be interesting structures for organizing time and information (often radically condensing time and information).

In this class, we will analyze and discuss different genres of the narrative list, examining the list-driven work of several writers, including Édouard Levé, Amina Cain, Kate Durbin, Javier O. Huerta, Harold Abramowitz, and Alexandrine Ogundimu. We will also explore the unique narrative capabilities of lists and create our own fictions guided by lists and listmaking.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.