Class

Real Talk: Writing Intergenerational Dialogue in 4 Weeks

Every generation has its own slang, phrases, attitudes and belief systems that stem from values specific to our age groups. Exploring these intergenerational differences helps us better understand ourselves and each other as our life experiences intersect. This course sheds light on how we, as writers, can capture nuances in the conversations between a grandparent and a child, a teacher and a student, a new-hire and a retiree, or any characters from multigenerational settings in our stories.

We’ll read examples of texts from classic and contemporary writers, including Toni Cade Bambara (Gorilla, My Love), Ann Napolitano (Hello, Beautiful), Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars), and Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Lives of Church Ladies) to help set the tone as you prepare your own writing. At the end of 4 weeks, you can expect to have a well-crafted piece exhibiting dialogue that's crisp, natural, and engaging between characters from varied generations. Come ready to write your best scenes!

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.