Imagined Mythologies with Talia Lakshmi Kolluri
Saturday, September 19, 2026
4-5:15pm ET
Virtual (Zoom)
$25
The next lecture in our 2026 Lecture Series takes place Saturday, September 19, from 4-5:15pm ET with Talia Lakshmi Kolluri, author of OS #291, “Let Your Body Meet the Ground.”
Imagined Mythologies: Creating Belief Inside a Fictional World
As writers and as readers, the characters that can linger the most for us are those that feel infused with a wholly realized self. When our characters are so richly imagined as to feel real, their stories develop with more complex texture and we become more invested in them. But how do we get there? Perhaps the key to revealing a character’s complexity is to examine what they believe in the context of the world they live in. If this is so, how can creating an imagined belief system be used to develop both depth of character and intricacy in the narrative?
In this lecture we will explore the craft of creating mythologies and belief systems within fictional worlds, and how an imagined belief structure can be used to shape character development and narrative. Examined texts will include Watership Down, Exhalation, Piranesi, and others.
This is part of our 2026 Lecture Series. You can purchase the entire series by going here.
About Talia Lakshmi Kolluri:
Talia Lakshmi Kolluri is a mixed South Asian American writer telling modern animal fables about the climate crisis. Her debut collection of short stories, What We Fed to the Manticore (Tin House 2022), was a finalist for the 2023 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction and was longlisted for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize, among other honors. Her short fiction has been published in Ecotone, Southern Humanities Review, The Common, One Story, Orion, and elsewhere. She lives in California’s Central Valley with her husband and two cats.
How It Works
When you register, you’ll be enrolled in a portal on Thinkific, our online learning platform, which will give you access to the Zoom link for the lecture along with any reading you’ll need to complete in advance of the class. This is also where the videos will be uploaded after the lectures take place.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now and will remain open throughout the year.
Will I be able to interact with the lecturers?
Yes. Students will be able to ask questions and chat with lecturers during the live lectures. There will be no instructor engagement once the lecture concludes.
How much time will the class take?
Each lecture runs between one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
If the cost of the class is a significant burden, please email edu.support@one-story.com
Will the lecture be recorded?
Yes. Visit the Thinkific portal to watch a recording of the lecture once it concludes. Students will have access to the portal with the recording for one year after the purchase date.
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.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For this class, refunds are no longer available after September 17, 2026. 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.
