As Mark Twain once said, “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” That applies to the short story as well – it can take a long time to write one! Find out what goes into crafting a compelling short story by reading and discussing some of the masters in Chesapeake Forum’s “The Short Story”, led by Sam VanNest, starting Wednesday, Nov. 6th.
In the first week, the class will read two different examples of how to frame a story from Roald Dah and Mark Twain. That is followed in week two with stories told in the first person from Frank O’Connor and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Finally, the class will examine stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jai Chakrabarti that are narrated in the third person. Digital copies of all stories will be sent out in advance.
People who have taken Sam’s classes before rave about him. “Sam led discussions with very effective probing questions to elicit much response. He did not try to lecture or dominate the discussion. He is knowledgeable and comfortable in his role as discussion leader,” a former student commented.
Sam VanNest graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in ’09 and received an MA in English from University of Oregon, before moving back to Easton in ’14 to write and teach. He was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare neurological disorder, at age 15.
The Short Story is three sessions, Wednesday Nov. 6, 13 and 20th from 10:30 AM – 12 PM. HYBRID (in person at the Easton Family YMCA, via ZOOM or recording). $40. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org. Expect to gain a better understanding of what makes a good short story, and hopefully, open new avenues for future reading.
Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore. To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org.
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