Writing Provocative Stories

Class Description

Great writing should make us uncomfortable. Not because the content is necessarily graphic or shocking, but because the writer is being painfully honest, confronting the failures, dark impulses and moral ambiguities we spend much of our day-to-day lives avoiding. Whether it’s a story of personal trauma, addiction, sex, social and racial tensions, or political unrest, writing about such themes can stir reflection and recognition in readers and create space for much-needed dialogues. In this 6-week course, we’ll explore this kind of bold, challenging writing, examining what makes a provocative piece of nonfiction or fiction succeed, along with the pitfalls of writing stories that touch nerves—especially in our current era, when opinions feel so charged and the stakes so high. To drive discussion, we’ll read daring work by authors such as Roxane Gay, Miranda July, Edwidge Danticat, Patricia Lockwood, Gary Schteyngart and Kristen Dombek. We’ll do in-class exercises to push our writing into territory that is similarly candid and unafraid, and during the course you’ll generate and receive group feedback on at least two stories or essays.

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.