FOLKLORE INTO FICTION
“If you take myth and folklore, and these things that speak in symbols, they can be interpreted in so many ways that although the actual image is clear enough, the interpretation is infinitely blurred, a sort of enormous rainbow of every possible colour you could imagine.”
― Diana Wynne Jones
COURSE SUMMARY
In this 6-week course, we will use folklore as our jumping-off point to create original fiction. The vast heritage of folklore – from folk and fairytales, to mythical creatures, to superstitions and ancient customs – is a rich source of inspiration, ripe for re-imaginings. Through exploring the work of contemporary writers (such as Daisy Johnson, Aoko Matsuda, and Zoe Gilbert, among others) we will see the wealth of approaches available to us when it comes to using folkloric elements in our own writing. The course will be limited to 12 people to allow for individual attention and feedback.
COURSE OUTLINE
- Weekly reading material and in-class discussion prompts focusing on different elements of folklore, contemporary writing, and elements of craft.
- Guided short weekly assignments to complete at home.
- Facilitator feedback on all written assignments.
- Workshop sessions for work-in-progress: Opportunity for each participant to receive in-depth peer and facilitator feedback on two occasions over the course of the 6 weeks (optional but encouraged).
COURSE TIMETABLE
Week 1: Tales Retold — folk tales, fairytales, and uncovering new shapes for old stories
Week 2: Superstitions — old wives’ tales, folk beliefs, and finding sources of inspiration
Week 3: Animal Magic — symbolism, transformation, and the power of metaphor
Week 4: Strange Friends — the peculiar, the everyday, and forging believable characters
Week 5: Hauntings — Ghosts, voices, and utilising point of view
Week 6: Folklore of place — thin places, mythical spaces, and creating rich settings
COURSE OUTCOME
Through engaging with the course material and completing the short written assignments, participants should have the beginnings of some original folklore-inspired pieces. They will also have the opportunity to further develop one assignment into a longer piece. The facilitator will provide individual feedback on a final submission of up to 2,000 word:
About the facilitator
Máire T. Robinson is a writer living in County Galway. She is the author of short story chapbook Your Mixtape Unravels My Heart (2013) and novel Skin, Paper, Stone (2015). Máire was awarded a bursary award from the Arts Council in 2020 to complete a short story collection. Some of her folklore-inspired fiction has recently appeared in Trasna (2022) and Ropes journal (2023).
Testimonials from previous workshops
- “This is the first time I’ve done a class like this and I enjoyed it all! It helped me bring clarity to my work.”
- “I would love to do a course like this again…”
- “Loved the opportunity to share my work and receive critique.”
- “Has given me push to dedicate time to writing fiction.”
KEY INFORMATION
Location: Áras na nGael, Dominick Street, Galway City
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Start date: 2024 TBC
Duration: 6 weeks
Level: All levels
Cost: €120
Booking available via Eventbrite here.
Máire T. Robinson 