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Manuel Gonzales

Online Class
And Then the Space Robots Attack:
Blending Genres for Fun & Profit
with Manuel Gonzales

April 29th - May 3rd
Price: $75
Members: $60


In And Then the Space Robots Attack: Blending Genres for Fun & Profit with Manuel Gonzales, you’ll dive into the wondrous and fun-filled craft of blending fictional genres: westerns and space operas, science fiction and gothic horror, spy-thrillers, literary fiction and everything else, with a focus on how to juggle various genre tropes, how to build realistic worlds, and how to create a compelling story that doesn’t become overburdened or bogged down by all the genres you hope to blend into it. We’ll ask (and do our best to answer) questions like: how many genres can you blend together before your story becomes a muddied, over-complicated mess? Are there rules to blending genres? What are those rules? How many of those rules can you break? And we’ll explore the basic elements of writing at the heart of every good story.

Over the course of five days, you’ll delve into physical description, build dynamic settings, sharpen dialogue skills, play with point-of-view, and explore motivation and character development. The methods taught in craft lectures, exercises, and in group discussions on the online message boards will be ones that you can put to use long after the class ends and across any number of various genres.

About Manuel Gonzales:
Manuel Gonzales is the author of The Miniature Wife and other stories (Riverhead, 2012), winner of the Sue Kaufmann Prize for First Fiction and the John Gardner Prize for Fiction, and the novel, The Regional Office is Under Attack! (Riverhead, 2016), winner of an Alex Award from the YALSA. He currently teaches creative writing and literature at Bennington College and is a core faculty member of the Bennington Writing Seminars.

FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now through April 28th, 2021.
How does the class work?
Lessons will be posted nightly at 11:59pm UTC. Each lesson will comprise craft advice, writing assignments, and optional readings. The class also includes discussion boards where participants can interact with one another and with Manuel.
Is participation on the discussion boards required?
No, it’s optional; participants are welcome to jump into the conversation or sit back and observe.
Is there homework?
The class includes optional reading assignments, writing exercises, and discussion questions. Students have the option of sharing their responses to the exercises for feedback from other students. The instructor will not be evaluating student work.
How much time will the class take?
Plan to spend about forty-five minutes per day reviewing the lessons and completing the exercises, plus however much time you choose to spend on the discussion boards.
How many students are in the class?
One Story online classes are large, and tend to range from 100-250 students.
What if I want to take the class, but the dates don’t work for me?
The class is designed for participants to proceed at their own pace, on their own schedule, so if you miss a day or three, no problem. All class materials will be accessible online until June 2nd, 2021. Please note, however, that Manuel will be present on the discussion boards only from April 29th - May 3rd.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Can I save the material for later use?
There will be downloadable writing exercises, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. To prevent distribution of the material without our knowledge, students are not permitted to copy/paste the lessons but are of course welcome to take notes.
What if I can’t wait to get started?
The discussion boards will open on Tuesday, April 27th, two days before the class begins, so that participants can meet, mingle, and familiarize themselves with the learning platform.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes. We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships that cover 50% of tuition. The window to request a scholarship is open now through April 25th. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.

Member Discount: In order to qualify for our member discount, you must be a member at the time of registration. Please note that the discount is for our members only. Members commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in the organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers are members. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a member, you can do so here.

Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth.

If you have any questions, please contact lena.

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