Class Description
Fairy tales have long offered rich source material for stories. In this seminar, we will explore elements of the genre, reading and discussing contemporary takes from Angela Carter, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, and others. We’ll also touch on appreciations of the form from Fairy Tale Review editor Kate Bernheimer, looking at techniques such as flatness, everyday magic, and intuitive logic through hands-on in-class writing exercises and prompts. Through these techniques, we’ll also consider character, plot, and landscape. Class time will include a mix of mini-lectures, discussion, writing, and sharing fresh writing in pairs, small groups, or with the whole group. By the end of our time together, you’ll have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the genre, as well as a draft of your own fairy tale (or three!).
Anca L. Szilágyi is the author of Daughters of the Air, which Shelf Awareness called “a striking debut” and Dreams Under Glass, which Buzzfeed Books called “a novel for our modern times.” She has taught creative writing since 2010.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
What to Expect
Format: Virtual
Class Capacity: 30
Class Style: Workshop; participation- and assignment-based
Materials List
Required
- Digital Course Packet
A Brief Syllabus
- What’s in a Fairy Tale?
- Everyday Magic: How characters respond to magic
- Intuitive Logic: turning off the analytical brain
- Workshop: Sharing and feedback
Cost and Registration
4 Sessions, $200 ($180 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($200), Community Supported ($185), and Sponsor ($215). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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