Death is the Style

“Kill your darlings” is the anthem of the bored, exhausted writer. The phrase is well meaning enough, but “don’t let what you like thwart the magic of a piece” doesn’t carry the same drama as pre-mediated murder. Imagine it is good to love what you write. In this class, we will reimagine our darlings. Bring what you love and what you could never make work, whether it’s a line, a complete story, or a topic. Bring what you love that sounds melodramatic, cheesy, arrogant, or stupid. We love cheese. We love stupid. Through self-directed ritual and rigorous experiments in form, we will animate what the less imaginative can only kill.

The purpose of this class is to push a writer outside of their comfort zone and expand the margins of they deem possible. Participants will be expected to try methods of generation that might seem difficult or feel silly. For example, you may need to experiment with a new software, self impose constraints, invent a new form, look at yourself in the mirror for longer than 15 minutes, listen to instrumental music as if it were dictation, perform some exhausting physical exercise in-between sentence or line writing, etc. You will be supported through these experimentations. Each participant will end the class with 2 complete drafts of new or revised work.

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Details: Death is the Style takes place Thursdays April 9, April 16, April 23, and April 30 remotely online via Zoom.

‍Prerequisite: None

‍Genre: Multigenre

‍Level: All levels

‍Format: Workshop

‍Location: This class takes place remotely online via Zoom.

‍Size: Limited to 14 participants (including two scholarship recipients).

‍Scholarships: Two scholarship spots are available for this class for writers in Northeast Ohio. Apply by December 15. Click here to apply.

‍Cancellations & Refunds: Cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the first class meeting to receive a full refund. Email info@litcleveland.org.