Speculative Series: Building an Arc

Class Description

Building an Arc isn’t just something legendary figures do before a huge flood sweeps over the world (though it may come to that… in your story at least). It’s also a great way for writers to think about character. After all, many of the stories we come back to as readers again and again have, at their center, a narrative of change. But the change arc, while compelling, can be over simplified. Not all change is positive. Not all change arcs end in a return with an elixir, or an ultimate boon. And a story’s climax isn’t the only place transformation happens.

In this class, we’ll dig into different possible change arcs and identify how they’ve been used in familiar works, interrogating why some arcs are so familiar and others less often told. Plus, we’ll touch on how these arcs can influence one another, and ways to weave different arcs together to create a layered and dynamic story. You’ll gain a new awareness of the different paths your characters can take, and the skills to apply these techniques to your protagonist to give them direction—even if the only place that direction points them is to realizing they were on the right track all along.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.