The End: How Do I Get Out of This Story? (2-part)

Class Description

While openings are easy to discuss, endings are a bit more challenging, as they require that we be familiar with an entire story. That said, a great ending is where a story can either fizzle or indelibly emblazon itself in our consciousness for the rest of our lives. In this two-part class, we'll examine the endings of stories by writers such as Tobias Wolff, Edward P. Jones, Rebecca Makkai, Erin Somers, Chad M. Anderson, and Ye Chun, as well as some flash fiction pieces, and we will discuss what makes a powerful ending whose impact lingers beyond the final punctuation mark.

In Week 1, participants will focus on the concept of endings with particular attention to some shorter published stories and flash pieces.

In Week 2, we'll discuss some further examples from longer published stories and try out some possible endings for our own work.

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.