Outside In: Building a Story
Taught by Lili Flanders
Ages 12* – 18
Saturday, February 6, 2010
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This workshop takes place at 826LA West

If you were building a house of cards, a bridge of toothpicks, or a paper airplane (not to mention an actual house, bridge, or plane) you would need to consider structure in order to create a form that would stand, bear weight, or fly. But how many young writers consider structure when they create fiction? Whether driven by character or plot, all stories need structure in order to hold together, bear the weight of scrutiny, and take off in the imagination of the reader. Using improvisational games and writing exercises, we’ll explore the characteristics of structure in fiction. Each student will have the chance to partake in improvisations and will complete two or three well-structured very short stories.

Please note: this is the second of a two-part series on story structure. You can sign up for the first session here.

*This workshop is targeted toward high school-age students (14–18), but 12- and 13-year-olds may be allowed to attend. We will make this determination case-by-case, based on a writing sample.

A graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama, Lili Flanders worked in the theatre for fifteen years before her growing interest in education led her from the stage to the classroom. She taught eighth-grade English for five years at the Curtis School, and has lectured and shared myths and stories from Shakespeare with students of all ages around Los Angeles. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing from the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, and now spends most her time writing or reading fiction.