Adaptation: Crafting Stories from the Familiar and the Unknown

Stone Soup, the literary magazine 100% written by kids since its founding in 1973, is pleased to announce the continuation of our writing workshops! Join us this spring for Adaptation: Crafting Stories from the Familiar and the Unknown, a multi-week, virtual course led by writer, translator, and professor Conner Bassett.

This course is designed to explore the art of adaptation in storytelling, where we will delve into transforming existing narratives, concepts, and ideas into original and compelling pieces of writing. Over the course of nine workshops, you will learn various techniques and strategies to adapt stories, themes, and characters from diverse sources into your own unique creations.

A note from Conner Bassett: "I value emotional and formal risk-taking. I value hard work. I value openness to criticism and a sense of humor, especially about yourself. Respect for others. Community building. Empathy for all your characters. Complex details and themes. Specificity in language. A sense of place. Surprise. Above all, passion for reading and writing and paying attention to being alive."

Schedule

This multi-week workshop meets Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific time via Zoom (2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time).

April 27 — Introduction to Adaptation
We'll discuss the concept of adaptation in storytelling, analyzing examples from literature, film, and other media to understand how stories evolve and transform across different mediums.

May 4 — Adapting Mythology and Folklore
Explore the rich world of myths and folklore from various cultures, learning how to reinterpret and adapt these timeless tales into contemporary narratives.

May 11 — Retelling Classic Literature
Discover how to breathe new life into classic literary works by reimagining characters, settings, and themes in a modern context.

May 18— No class

May 25 — Adapting Historical Events
Learn techniques for adapting historical events into engaging narratives, blending facts with creative storytelling to bring the past to life.

June 1 — Transforming Fairy Tales
Explore the magic of fairy tales and learn how to subvert tropes, create alternate endings, and infuse these stories with fresh perspectives.

June 8 — Adapting Biographical Stories
Study the art of adapting real-life stories and biographies into fictionalized accounts, capturing the essence of individuals' lives while adding imaginative elements.

June 15 — Adapting Visual Art and Music
Experiment with adapting visual art and music into written form, exploring how different art forms can inspire narrative creation.

June 22 — Adapting Science Fiction and Fantasy
Delve into the world of speculative fiction, learning how to adapt fantastical concepts, worlds, and technologies into cohesive and captivating stories.

June 29 — Adapting Contemporary Issues and Final Projects
Address current societal issues and events, exploring how to weave these topics into your narratives with sensitivity and relevance. Develop and share your own adapted story, applying the techniques and skills learned throughout the course to create a polished and unique piece of writing.

Who is the class for?

This is a class for highly motivated young writers ages 9-13 who want to be challenged. Writing workshop members join a community of like-minded students. They find inspiration in the weekly presentations and discussions and relish the opportunity to hear the work of their peers and share their own work if they wish. This class is appropriate for students who are truly passionate about writing and want to practice and improve their skills. Your child will be introduced to college-level writing concepts. Basic writing skills are assumed.

Meet your instructor...

Conner Dylan Bassett is an assistant professor of English at Xavier University. He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz. His fiction and poetry are published in Chicago Review, Iowa Review, The Literary Review, and elsewhere. He has been a Stone Soup Writing Workshop instructor since 2021.

Questions?

Write to us at education@stonesoup.com if you have any questions about the course. We are happy to help you determine if our writing workshops are a good fit for your young writer.

Due to limited space in the class, tuition is nonrefundable. In the event that you need to cancel, we ask that you notify us at education@stonesoup.com 72 hours before the start of the first class, and your tuition payment will be converted to a tax deductible donation to Stone Soup, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Please note that by registering for this event you agree to be added to our email list. You may unsubscribe from the list at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of our emails.

Patterns (pictured above) by Analise Braddock, 9, is featured in the November 2020 issue of Stone Soup.