Begins Tuesday, August 1st, 2023

Class will meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons via Zoom, 2PM - 4PM Eastern Standard Time.

Open to All writers!

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Taught by Monica Brashears, an Affrilachian writer from Tennessee. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's MFA program. Monica's debut novel, House of Cotton, is out with Flatiron Books.

This course is an invitation to explore the captivating world of ghostly tales across cultures. Monica will guide you into the rich oral and written traditions of ghost stories, spanning from the Yumboes of Senegal to the Banshees of Ireland, and the Haints of Appalachia, intertwining history, culture, and the supernatural.

By studying the evolution of the genre, students will gain valuable insights into the elements that make ghost stories resonate with readers across time and learn how to effectively implement haunted tropes, devices, and allegories. Readings and generative prompts will allow students to discover how to create atmospheric settings, develop compelling characters, and build suspenseful plots.

By understanding the intricacies of the genre, you will gain the tools to craft your own unique and unforgettable ghostly narratives.

The second half of the course is structured as a workshop, providing an opportunity for you to showcase your own ghost story. Drawing from the knowledge gained in the earlier sessions, you will have the chance to present your work and receive constructive feedback from your peers and Monica. This collaborative environment will nurture your creativity and help you refine your storytelling skills.

This course promises to give you with a fresh understanding of ghost narratives, empowering you to breathe life into your own haunting tales.

COURSE OUTLINE: 

• Week 1: Earliest Ghost Stories
• Week 2: Cultural commonalities and differences between ghost stories
• Week 3: Rules of the Ghost & a Haunting as Urgency
• Week 4: Mimesis and preparing for workshop
• Week 5: Workshop
• Week 6: Workshop
• Week 7: Workshop
• Week 8: Workshop and Conclusion

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Discover how your unique background relating to ghosts and culture is embedded in a long personal history.
• Use the manifestation of hauntings as trauma to generate work.
• A better understanding of pacing and plot within the horror genre.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class meets weekly via Zoom. Come prepared for an engaging course with live interaction on Zoom each week and plenty of writing, reading, and talking!

• Instructor: Monica Brashears
  
• Class Starts Tuesday, August 1st, 2023
  
• The class will meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons via Zoom, 2PM - 4PM Eastern Standard Time.
• Course is fully ONLINE.

Instructor Monica Brashears is an Affrilachian writer from Tennessee. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's MFA program. Her work has appeared in Nashville Review, Split Lip Magazine, Appalachian Review, The Masters Review, and more. Her debut novel, House of Cotton, is out with Flatiron Books.