In this four-week course, we will examine narration, including point of view and voice—the lifeblood of fiction. Because narration flows through or even constitutes good fiction, this crucial element of craft can be both neglected and hard to pin down. What hangs on the choice between the intimacy of the first person and the authority and detachment of the third? Can writing in the second person ever work? What is voice? Who has one? To explore these questions, we’ll read and discuss short fiction by Curtis Sittenfeld, Kazuo Ishiguro, Louise Erdrich, and Lorrie Moore. By the end of the course, students will understand the advantages and disadvantages of various narrative modes, and they will be able to deploy them in their own writing.
In addition to weekly reading assignments, students will complete three short writing exercises. In the fourth week, students will submit a completed short story or novel excerpt.
We'll spend our class time engaged in conversation about craft; we'll also use our time together to write. Though this course won’t take the form of a traditional workshop, I will provide written feedback on everything you turn in. In class and outside it, you'll hone your narration skills.
Writers will leave this class with a better understanding of how to cultivate voice and effectively deploy different narrative techniques. You will also have the chance to discuss a variety of short stories in a supportive, relaxed environment. This course is appropriate for both new and experienced writers looking to grow their skills and their community.
Our class platform works best on laptop or desktop computers. Class meetings will be held over video chat, using Zoom accessed from your private class page. While you can use Zoom from your browser, we recommend downloading the desktop client so you have access to all platform features. The Zoom calls will have automated transcription enabled. Please let us know (classes@catapult.co) if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility.
Check out this page for details about payment plans and discount opportunities.
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
- Receive detailed feedback from instructor on three exercises and one story or novel excerpt
- Learn to deploy narrative voice and different POVs in fiction
- Contribute to weekly discussions about craft, technique, and storytelling
- 10% discount on all future Catapult classes
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
Students will read an assigned story before each class and write a short exercise (under 1,000 words) before each of the first three classes. Before the final class, students will submit a short story or novel excerpt (up to 3,000 words) to the instructor for written feedback.
COURSE SKELETON:
Week 1: First Person POV
Week 2: The Challenge of The Second Person
Week 3: Third person POV and Omniscience
Week 4: Conclusions
Emily Adrian is the author of Everything Here Is Under Control and The Second Season, as well as two critically acclaimed novels for young adults. Her work has appeared in Joyland, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Granta. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Emily currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut with her family.
"She writes as engagingly and insightfully about basketball and broadcasting as she does about work, love, friendship, ambition, motherhood, aging, and the power and frailty of the body."
"I'm a goner; I will read anything she writes.''
"Filled with compelling characters…Full of texture and authentic human ambivalence.”
"Emily can take any piece of writing from good to great with her ability to hone in on the heart of the story and her deep understanding of what makes a novel engaging and believable."
"Emily is a careful reader and a skilled editor. She has been invaluable in turning my writing into the best possible version of itself."
