520. ORDINARY BAD BEHAVIOR

Katie Winkelstein-Duveneck

In this class, we will read great works of literature featuring characters who exhibit what author Rosellen Brown calls “ordinary bad behavior.” People, and characters, make mistakes – sometimes by accident, and sometimes on purpose. How do authors deal with this? Do they ask us to relate to these characters, or to judge them? How do we respond? We will also examine what happens when writers “disobey” established rules of writing. We will read works of fiction and memoir by Anton Chekhov, Leigh Brackett, Rohinton Mistry, and others. In fun, experimental writing exercises, we will try our hand at writing stories of our own (this part is optional, so feel free to join in whether or not you’re
interested in writing).

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 

4 sessions

Tuesdays, January 6, 20, 27, and February 3

(No class on January 13)

Fee: $160

Note: A Zoom Link will be sent to you at least one day prior to the first day of class and again on a weekly basis prior to each successive class.