The Ghost Story's Lasting Power

Class Description

The ghost story is one of the oldest and most powerful literary traditions—with the earliest depiction of a ghost dating back to a stone tablet from 1500 B.C.E. Babylon. What gives such stories such a powerful hold on readers? And what separates the successful ghost story that lingers in the readers' minds from one that merely features rattling chains and bumps in the night? In this course, we will explore a very brief history of the ghost story, discuss its conventions (and how writers have resisted such conventions), and practice writing micro-scenes that might serve for the start of your own work within this esteemed genre.

This course will be useful for writers of any genre, but especially writers of short horror fiction.

Class Format

This class will take place in-person at our Center for Creative Writing in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.

Covid-19 Update:

GrubStreet's space will be mask optional when Boston's Covid-19 Community Level is low or medium. When the Covid-19 Community Level is high, our space will require masks. Please check GrubStreet's Covid-19 page for the latest info on masking and Community Levels before visiting in-person.

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