Class Description
In fiction, a narrative arc means there’s a plot. Same for writing nonfiction — whether narrative essay or memoir, stuff needs to happen. Not only should your narrative include a beginning, middle, and end, there should also be a sense of change and movement for the main character (which is likely the character you). In this one-day intensive seminar, you’ll learn how to apply this idea to your own work. We’ll look at how to build stakes, rising tension, climax and resolution. We’ll also examine the relationship between the narrative arc (“plot” on a grand scale”) and character arc (inner journey of a character over the course of that plot). We’ll look at writers such as Jeannette Walls, Cheryl Strayed and Mathew Polly for inspiration, and work on writing exercises to help you map your own narrative arcs. Feel free to bring drafts or outlines of short or longform works to which you can apply the class lessons immediately.
Part of The Personal Narrative Essentials series taught by Ethan Gilsdorf. Take every class in the series or simply choose the craft topics that are relevant to the challenges you face in your work. Classes include:
Personal Narrative Essentials: Finding Your Narrative Arc
Personal Narrative Essentials: Structure and Form
Personal Narrative Essentials: Using Research and Immersion
Personal Narrative Essentials: Playing With Voice
Personal Narrative Essentials: How to Publish
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.
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 detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.