Class

How to End Things

Homecomings. Gamechangers. Portals. Disasters. New Beginnings. Rebirths. Doors. These are just a few of the wildly divergent words used to describe conclusions. Endings should be believably unbelievable and also unbelievably believable. Totally predictable yet surprising. David Leavitt famously stated that endings should make readers say “Oh my God” and then “of course.” So endings should make readers finish the last sentences with a satisfied sigh while also exploding all assumptions so readers see the world entirely anew. How do we do this?

In this 6-session class, we will study the mystery of endings in novels, memoirs, essays, short stories, TV, and film with the goal of generating ideas for writing our conclusions.

We will discuss the ethics of catharsis and resolution while examining how successful endings balance interior and exterior struggles alongside theme and meaning. We will also trace how conclusions are set up through image, gesture, framing, questions, rhetoric, scene, and more––and practice strategies of expansion, reversal, returns, speculation, and closure.

In addition to craft lectures, generative exercises, and brainstorming sessions, students will be invited to submit 1000-word endings (or outlines of endings) accompanied by context, and a limited selection will be workshopped in class.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

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.