Writing in Threes: The Triptych Essay

with Gail Folkins

Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Online

Introductory, Intermediate

1 Session

Start Date: May 14, 2023
End Date: May 14, 2023
Day of Week: Sunday
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm PT
Capacity: 15 seats
4 seats left!
Member Price: $81.00
General Price: $90.00

The triptych is a set of three associated ideas in a piece of art, music, or literature. Through readings, discussion, and writing practice, writers will explore the triptych or fragmented form as a new way to create meaning. The triptych can help writers generate new ideas, give them practice with an unconventional structure, and even provide scaffolding for a difficult topic. By the end of the session, students will have a triptych essay draft.

HAPPY HOUR FLASH SALE! All spring classes are 10% off now through Monday, May 15. Discount taken in your cart at checkout.

Registration dates:

March 13: Scholarship Donation Day (Learn more.)

March 14: Member registration opens

March 21: General registration opens

Gail Folkins

Gail Folkins

She/her

Gail Folkins often writes about her deep roots in the American West. She is the author of two creative nonfiction books from Texas Tech University Press: a Pacific Northwest memoir titled Light in the Trees (2016), and Texas Dance Halls: A Two-Step Circuit (2007), which was a popular culture finalist in ForeWord Review’s 2007 Book of the Year Awards. Folkins’ essay “A Palouse Horse” was a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2010. Her essays and poetry have appeared in publications such as River Teeth JournalBeautiful Things, North Dakota Quarterly, Wisconsin Life, Texas Highways, and Wildflower Magazine. She has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, St. Edward’s University (Austin), and Austin Community College. Teaching philosophy: My goal is to further understanding of craft while also encouraging expression of students’ unique voices. Students have praised my workshop format and student-centered approach. Students learn to not only share a narrative, but to also explore their experiences and discoveries. I encourage students to read as writers, meaning focusing on elements of craft in addition to literary themes. Writers I return to: Edward Abbey, Julia Alvarez, Margaret Atwood, Kim Barnes, Rick Bass, Dennis Covington, Louise Erdrich, Ernest Hemingway, Pico Iyer, and Jhumpa Lahiri. Favorite writing advice: Find the extraordinary in the everyday.

Most classes are offered at a general and member tuition rates based on instruction hours, with Hugo House members receiving a 10% discount on classes fewer than six sessions.

Early bird discounts are available during the first two weeks of registration and apply to both general and member tuition rates.

To help provide financial accessibility to our class offerings, some classes each quarter are offered with a sliding-scale tuition model, allowing students to pay what they can for the class. For these classes, tuition increments starting at $5 and going up to 125% of the standard pricing will be listed on the page.

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Class sessions may be recorded if a session falls on a holiday, or if a student has access needs. Class recordings are not guaranteed.

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Classes may be cancelled if less than the minimum number of students are enrolled within ten days before the class start date. If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, students can choose between receiving a full credit toward future classes or full refund.

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