Class

The Power of Retelling in Fiction

Retellings of myths, legends, fairy tales and other old stories are as popular as they’ve ever been. Old stories give us tools for understanding the world and our place in it: they tell us how to recognize true love, or defeat a monster, or fulfill our duty. Old plots and characters are memes we use to communicate complex ideas quickly. Retelling those stories offers writers the opportunity to reshape and reframe those shared ideas. It gives us a chance to re-center the stories on the characters that have been pushed to the margins. Sometimes, there is a power in identifying with the monstrous in old tales, or in giving voice to the misunderstood.

In this class, a writer whose 2023 novel is a retelling of Norse and Germanic myth will share techniques for researching, rethinking, and identifying the elements that can make a retelling feel fresh and relevant. Through a series of writing exercises, participants will generate ideas and work through common pitfalls. The class will draw on examples such as Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, Grendel by John Gardner, Spear by Nicola Griffith, and Circe by Madeline Miller.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.