Class

Braided Narratives: Weaving Multiple Threads in a Single Story

This class will invite students to explore braided structures in fiction: stories that move between past and present, pieces with multiple POVs and perspectives, and narratives that balance plot arc and character arc. How can we pull apart the "threads" of a narrative in order to better understand each individual arc? What decisions do writers need to make when moving from thread to thread, and how do the intersections between those individual threads invite the reader to form associations between scenes? In short, how do braids allow stories to be much greater than the sum of their parts? In this class, we will read a number of published stories that take the form of a braid; assigned readings will include works by Alice Munro, Helen Oyeyemi, Haruki Murakami, Carmen Maria Machado, and Jhumpa Lahiri. We'll also complete a number of freewrites that will explore a variety of braided structures, in order to present students with a range of "options" to integrate into their own work.

No class July 4.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Standard Time (CST); make sure you understand your time zone, and adjust accordingly

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.