Note: this version of the class does not include a signed copy of Buckeye. To enroll in the course and receive the book, go here.

Get a glimpse behind the scenes of the creation of Buckeye, One Story Editor-in-Chief Patrick Ryan’s multigenerational epic, in this three-day asynchronous class designed for readers and writers alike.

Through short videos and written lectures, Patrick will take students on the journey of how Buckeye went from a moment of inspiration to a novel spanning forty years. Topics covered will include:

• Ways of incorporating autobiographical elements into fiction to facilitate creative thinking.
• Voice, point-of-view, and the challenges and delights of working with an omniscient narrator.
• Structure, character arc, and the pros and cons of breaking chronological order in fiction.
• Revising alone vs. revising with an editor.

Each day will include creative writing and/or journaling prompts designed to help students explore the options they have in fiction. Patrick will be on hand to answer questions about Buckeye and about writing and publishing in general.

About the Book:

In Bonhomie, Ohio, a stolen moment of passion, sparked in the exuberant aftermath of the Allied victory in Europe, binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded not in war but by his inability to serve in it, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. Cal’s wife, Becky, has a spiritual gift: She is a seer who can conjure the dead, helping families connect with those they’ve lost. Margaret’s husband, Felix, is serving on a Navy cargo ship, out of harm’s way—until a telegram suggests that the unthinkable might have happened.

Later, as the country reconstructs in the postwar boom, a secret grows in Bonhomie—but nothing stays buried forever in a small town. Against the backdrop of some of the most transformative decades in modern America, the consequences of that long-ago encounter ripple through the next generation of both families, compelling them to reexamine who they thought they were and what the future might hold.

Sweeping yet intimate, rich with piercing observation and the warmth that comes from profound understanding of the human spirit, Buckeye captures the universal longing for love and for goodness.

“Patrick Ryan has created a world, and characters, that exist inside me now, and as a reader that is my deepest joy. Buckeye is wise and heartbreaking and full of individuals who struggle across decades—as we all do—to live as their whole selves. I could not recommend this book more highly.”—Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful

“Full of love and war and the perilous intimacies of smalltown life, Buckeye is funny and tender, realistic and strange. Patrick Ryan has long been one of my favorite writers. I have a feeling that with this book he’s going to be everyone’s favorite writer.”—Ann Patchett

“Filled with wit and emotion on every page, this is a stirring paean to the joys and sorrows of family.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Discounts & Policies

Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.

Patron Discount: In order to qualify for our patron discount, you must be a member of our patron circle at the time of registration. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in our non-profit organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers or supporters are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.

Refund Policy: This class is nonrefundable. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.

If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.