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  • Seminar
  • Online: Zoom
  • Adult (18+)

The Memoir Series: How to Build Suspense

No Longer Enrolling

  • $75.00 Non-Member
  • $65.00 Member

Class Description

As writers, we’re duty-bound to keep our readers turning the page. But how to do it? In this class we will look at the difference between surprise and suspense, and tools that we can employ to make our own writing more suspenseful, including “the ticking clock,” “small hooks,” and understanding the difference between positive and negative suspense. We will also review works by writers who build suspense effectively and try some of these techniques in class.

Part of GrubStreet's Memoir Series, dedicated to the craft and process of memoir writing. Classes include:

To learn more about instructor Alysia Abbott and her teaching style, check out the short podcast with her in our GrubStreet Instructor Interview series:

Scholarships Format/Location

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.