Twelve Questions to Structure Your Writing with Francesca Lia Block
Mondays, April 1-15
Reading Group
$150
$125
Using twelve craft questions that have helped hundreds of writers and readers dive deeper into literature, this three-week class will provide a close analysis of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Each week, bestselling and award-winning author and writing instructor Francesca Lia Block, author of The Thorn Necklace: Healing Through Writing and the Creative Process and many more books, will use written assignments, lectures, and in-class discussion prompts to guide you through these questions as they apply to Their Eyes Were Watching God. You’ll not only learn about what Francesca believes is one of the greatest novels of all time, but also about how to apply these simple but highly effective questions to all your future reading and writing endeavors.
This is a reading group. Designed for writers and readers alike, our reading groups analyze a single text or multiple texts. Classes meet once a week for live Zoom lectures to discuss the reading with the instructor. There may be optional writing and/or discussion prompts on the online discussion board, but there will not be instructor feedback on the exercises. Reading group sessions will be recorded.
Schedule
Live lectures will be held on Zoom Monday evenings from 7:00-8:15pm ET from April 1st-15th.
Week 1: Questions 1-4—Gift/Flaw, Want/Need
Week 2: Questions 5-8—Arc, Antagonist, Setting, Voice
Week 3 Questions 9-12—Crisis, Climax, Resolution, Theme
Students will need to come to class with their own copy of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
About Francesca Lia Block:
Francesca Lia Block, M.F.A., is the author of more than twenty-five books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry, and has written screenplay adaptations of her work. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association and from the New York Times Book Review, School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly.
Her work has been translated into many languages. Francesca has also published stories, poems, essays and interviews in The Los Angeles Times, The L.A. Review of Books, Spin, Nylon, Black Clock, The Fairy Tale Review, and Rattle,among others. In addition to writing, Francesca teaches fiction at UCLA Extension, Antioch University, and privately in Los Angeles
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now and will close on March 25, 2024, or when the class reaches its cap.
How does the class work?
This class meets weekly for live Zoom discussions for the duration of the course. Students will share responses to the assignments for feedback from their fellow students and the instructor on Thinkific.
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, discussion questions, and writing exercises. The instructor will not be providing feedback on writing exercises.
How much time will the class take?
Live lessons run from an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Plan to spend about 2 hours a week on reading and written discussion questions.
How many students are in the class?
This class is capped at 50 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.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes, we have a limited number of scholarships for the class. Scholarships cover 50% of tuition. Recipients will be selected at random. You can apply for one here. The deadline to request a scholarship is Sunday, March 24. We will notify all entrants by Tuesday, March 26.
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 Monday, March 25, and 50% refunds from March 26 through 31. 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.
