It Came from Beyond… with Manuel Gonzales
Thursdays, March 7th-28th
Craft Course
$300
$275
I loved this class. It helped enrich current stories and sparked new ones. The lessons were insightful and the exercises were a writer's playground. Highly recommend!
What can horror stories teach us about tension? What world-building techniques can we borrow from science fiction writing? In It Came from Beyond…: Craft Lessons from Genre Fiction, you’ll spend four weeks exploring the wondrous and fun-filled world of genre fiction with award-winning author and One Story Contributing Editor Manuel Gonzales. Through close examination of the craft techniques brought to science fiction, thriller, horror, and fantasy storytelling, you’ll learn to build realistic worlds, create compelling stories, and people your universe with complex characters. Designed for staunch realists and genre devotees alike, this class is ideal for any writer eager to learn about the basic elements of writing at the heart of every good story through the lens of genre fiction.
The methods taught in craft lectures, exercises, and in group discussions on the online message board will be ones that you can put to use across any number of genres long after the class ends.
Schedule
This is a craft course. Our craft courses analyze fiction from a craft perspective and include generative writing exercises. Class will meet once a week for a live zoom lecture based on the assigned reading, along with a discussion and writing prompt. Students are encouraged to share their work on the discussion board for light feedback by fellow students and the instructor. Some craft courses will be recorded.
Live lectures will be held on evenings (ET) on March 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 7-8:30pm ET.
About Manuel Gonzales:
Manuel Gonzales is the author of the collection, The Miniature Wife and other stories, as well as the novel, The Regional Office is Under Attack! He currently serves as the fiction editor for The Bennington Review and as a contributing editor for American Short Fiction and One Story magazine. He lives in New England where he teaches literature and creative writing at Bennington College and serves as a faculty member for the Bennington Writing Seminars.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration will open in early 2024 and close on March 3, 2024, or when the class reaches its cap.
How does the class work?
This class meets weekly for live Zoom discussions on Thursdays in March for the duration of the course. Reading and writing assignments will be distributed in Thinkific, our online learning platform. That is also where students will share responses to the assignments for feedback from their fellow students and the instructor.
Is participation on the discussion board required?
We encourage all students to share work and to participate in discussions to get the most out of the experience.
Is there homework?
The class will include reading assignments, writing exercises, and discussion questions. The instructor will be providing light feedback on student work.
How much time will the class take?
Live lessons run for an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Plan to spend about 2 hours a week on reading and writing assignments, plus however long you decide to spend on the discussion boards.
How many students are in the class?
This class is capped at 25 students.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Can I save the material for later use?
There will be downloadable readings and writing exercises, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. To prevent distribution of the material without our knowledge, students are not permitted to copy/paste the lessons but are of course welcome to take notes.
What if I can’t wait to get started?
The classroom will open on Thursday, February 29th, so that students can download any reading and writing assignments and familiarize themselves with the learning platform.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
A limited number of scholarship recipients will be selected at random. Scholarships cover 50% of class tuition. To enter your name in the drawing, please fill out this form by February 25.
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: Students can receive full refunds prior to Thursday, February 29, and 50% refunds from February 29 through March 6th. Class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. 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.
