Colleen Ennen’s Fiction Craft Talk: Fairy Tales—An Approach To Story Structure, Form, and Tradition


What is a fairy tale? Is it dragons and princesses, or does the logic run deeper? The fairy tale is one of our oldest and most atavistic storytelling traditions, and a form to which everyone is almost universally exposed. But they can often be dismissed and overlooked, when, actually, we can glean more than you might expect from giving them a second look.

In this talk we will take a look at both the tradition of fairy tales and fables, and their formal elements. And we will do this with an eye to how you can apply the characteristic of, for example, intuitive logic to any and all prose writing. So much exciting new writing—from Carmen Maria Machado to Sabrina Orah Mark to Alexandra Kleeman—draws on the fairy tale tradition to make something new, and fresh, and strange.

If you are interested in writing contemporary fairy tales or fables, if you are interested in shaking up your prose with some new formal and structural elements, or even if you are just curious about trying something new: this talk is for you.

This event is free to attend.

Colleen Ennen is a writer of alternatively horrifying, fantastic, and surrealist fiction. She is a Sarah Lawrence College MFA candidate (2019) & Writing Institute Instructor. In addition, she reviews prose and poetry for The Lit Pub, works as a reader for Lumina, where she has published several profiles, and The Rumpus, has interned at The Believer, has worked as an Editorial Assistant at Lumina, and has been a worryingly passionate bookseller.

For more event updates and details, visit www.sarahlawrence.edu/news-events/events/detail/8272

Event Location and Ticket Information

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The Esther Raushenbush Library Great Room
1 Mead Way
Bronxville, NY - New York 10708
Handicap Accessible? Yes

Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Times: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Ticket pricing:
Free event
Get tickets now

Presenter: Sarah Lawrence College
Presenter Website: www.sarahlawrence.edu