Tell-Tale Awareness with ‘Pemi Aguda
Saturday, November 15, 2025
4-5:15pm ET
Virtual (Zoom)
$25
The next lecture in our 2025 Lecture Series takes place Saturday, November 15, from 4-5:15pm ET with ‘Pemi Aguda, author of OS #277, “Breastmilk.” ‘Pemi will be lecturing on character POV.
Tell-Tale Awareness
In Matthew Salesses’ Craft in the Real World, he asks, “What is your protagonist aware of? What forces shape their awareness?” In this lecture, we will discuss the overlap between description, character, and plot—How does a character’s noticing contribute to our understanding of their state of mind, desires, background, and where they are positioned in the world of the story? How does a character’s specific history influence their gaze? And how can this observational lens lay the ground for the story’s tone and direction? We’ll look at excerpts across genres and do some generative writing of our own.
This is part of our 2025 Lecture Series. You can purchase the entire series by going here.
About ’Pemi Aguda:
’Pemi Aguda is an MFA graduate from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan and the winner of the 2020 Deborah Rogers Foundation Award. Her writing has been published in One Story, Granta, Ploughshares, American Short Fiction, Zoetrope, and other publications, and was awarded the O. Henry Prize for short fiction in 2022 and 2023. She is the author of a collection of stories, Ghostroots (W.W. Norton, 2024; Virago Press, 2024; and Masobe Books, 2024). ’Pemi is from Lagos, Nigeria.
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 November 13, 2025. 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.
