An Introduction to Linked Stories
with Lauren Hohle
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reading
In Person
In Person Open to all levels
Open to all levels 6 Sessions
6 Sessions This class meets IN PERSON at Hugo House.
Some narratives emerge through a constellation of stories rather than through a single, linear arc.
“Linked stories,” “story cycles,” and “novels-in-stories” are all names for a composite literary form that strings standalone stories together into a larger narrative. Unlike in traditional short story collections, meaning builds across stories, emerging in the relationships between them.
As readers, the form offers a rich experience, inviting us to read closely, make connections, and imagine the spaces between stories and the characters’ lives beyond the page.
As writers, it offers us the opportunity to explore a world we’ve created more deeply and discover the possibilities it holds, piece by piece. We can follow recurring characters, places, images, and questions, allowing the overstory to gradually emerge. We can write non-linearly and play with timelines and perspectives. Perhaps best of all, we can use the form to knit together a multidimensional, intersecting, layered narrative of our own design.
It can also be a surprisingly effective way to break an intimidating novel project into smaller parts.
In this reading-centric class, we’ll read duos and trios of stories from notable works of linked fiction, including story cycles by James Joyce, Alice Munro, Haruki Murakami, Italo Calvino, and more. We’ll examine the ways setting, character, theme, and conceptual form can “link” stories, how these links can be used explicitly or implicitly, and how larger meaning is made from accumulating, layering, and juxtaposing shorter, stand-alone narratives.
And we’ll see what possibilities the form offers for our own writing, using what we’ve learned to generate new story and project ideas. We’ll practice essential writing skills like close reading, brainstorming, free writing, drafting, revising, and project outlining. You’re invited to bring in a story you’ve already written and hope to explore further—modified prompts will be provided for writers looking to start new projects.
We’ll also co-create a place-based story cycle that will culminate in a reading on the last day of class.
You'll leave with a draft of a place-based story, an extensive reading list, new approaches to linked fiction, and a sharpened ability to recognize when one story might be the seed of something greater.
This is a great class for anyone wanting to read and discuss fiction in community, regardless of familiarity with the form, and for anyone eager to explore new possibilities for storytelling. It’s also well-suited for anyone who has written a short story and senses there is more to be explored with their characters, setting, theme, or concept.
We’ll read stories from the following story cycles:
- Dubliners (1914), James Joyce
- Winesburg, OH (1919), Sherwood Anderson
- Lot (2019), Bryan Washington
- Ms. Hempel Chronicles (2008), Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
- Jesus’ Son (1992), Denis Johnson
- Olive Kitteredge (2008), Elizabeth Strout
- A Visit From the Goonsquad (2010), Jennifer Egan
- The Dewbreaker (2004), Edwidge Danticat
- Runaway (2004), Alice Munro (the Juliet stories)
- Cosmicomics (1965), Italo Calvino
- After the Quake (2002), Haruki Murakami
- Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil (2024), Ananda Lima
This class focuses on:
- Generative Writing: Producing new writing through prompts and exercises.
- Creative Play & Exploration: Playful, experimental writing activities designed to break creative blocks and spark ideas.
- Close Reading & Analysis: Engaging deeply with published texts to examine craft, language, and style.
What to expect:
- Project-Based: Students will work toward completing a specific project (e.g., a story, poem, or essay).
- Reading & Analysis: Published works will be closely read as part of the learning process.
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write.
- 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class per week.
Registration Dates:
- August 11: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 18: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 25: Scholarships open
- August 30: Last day of Early Bird discount
Lauren Hohle
Lauren Hohle is a writer, editor, and educator. Her fiction has appeared in Black Warrior Review, the Sun, Massachusetts Review, New England Review, Ecotone, and other journals.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).
Generative means you’ll be generating new writing, either in class or at home between classes.
Workshop means you’ll be sharing work to be read and critiqued by your instructor and classmates and that you will also be critiquing the work of your peers.
Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.
Craft discussion means you’ll be looking at the tools writers use to do that thing they do so well and then trying it out yourself.
Class levels are designed for various stages of the writing journey. Simply self-select the level that sounds best for where you’re at.
Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re looking to try something new, kickstart your writing, and/or establish yourself in the fundamentals.
Intermediate: You have a strong understanding of writing fundamentals and are eager to deep dive into craft. You’re honing your writerly identity and voice through independent projects. In workshop, you look for constructive feedback and are ready to do writing and reading outside of class.
Advanced: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re interested in refining the skills that will take you to the next level in the literary industry.
All Levels: You are any of the above and are looking to play with new possibilities.
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You’ll also receive an email including Zoom information three days before the first day of class.
If you have any questions please contact us at welcome@hugohouse.org
Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program that takes place online via Zoom.
We also have payment plans available for most of our classes. These payment plans are available to all students. Additionally, we offer partial scholarships (covering up to 40% of class tuition) for students who meet our income guidelines.
Lastly, we announce flash sales, early bird periods, and special deals through our e-newsletter; sign up at the bottom of this page.
Payment plans are available for all classes and can be purchased through our website. To register for a payment plan, select “Pay in installments” on the class details page, select your preferred option, and proceed to add to cart usual. The following policy applies to all payment plans:
- We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
- The administrative fee is calculated based on the general class price. Discounts through memberships, coupons, scholarships, gift cards, or other promotions do not affect the administrative fee.
- Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
- We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.
- If you need to cancel, Hugo House will issue refunds according to its cancellation and transfer policies. Your 5% nonrefundable admin fee will not be refunded.
- If you withdraw from a class after it begins, you will not receive a refund and are still responsible for paying the full course tuition.
Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!
During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You’ll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!
While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you.
Asynchronous classes take place through the website Wet Ink. Students receive an invitation to the class and to set up a Wet Ink account on the start date of the class. Each week of the class, a new lesson will be available through the Wet Ink portal. Classes close two weeks after the end date, and students receive an email containing their content from the class when it closes.
Hugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
To request a refund for class credit, please note such in the message section of your refund request.
In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception can be made with instructor approval if a student has specific access needs.
We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.
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If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund.
You can apply for a scholarship by clicking the red “Request a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the “add to cart” button.
Scholarship application dates can be found in our Academic Calendar.
Due to the limited number of scholarships, please only request up to two scholarships for two different classes per quarter if you truly meet the financial need requirements.
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