Roots in Old Stories: Writing with Folklore, Mythology, and Fairy Tales
$360
Folkloric writing can take many forms. From the overtly fantastical to the strangely realistic, the old tales are flexible. They shift over times and tellers. Their presence in our work can move from obvious to subtle. In this course, we’ll study writing that engages with folklore in a wide variety of ways: speculative memoir that tangles with witch tales, poems that draw on botanical lore, short story fairy tale retellings, mythic poetry and fiction, and more. Through discussion, reflection, and generative writing exercises, we’ll consider how we use old stories and lore in our own work. Suitable for writers at all stages, you can use this course to start a new project or continue work on an ongoing one. Prose writers, poets, and all writers between are welcome.
Access Program
Our Access Program offers writing class and seminar tuitions at a reduced rate. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available.
Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if you have questions.
Liaison position
Every in-person class and seminar at Literary Arts has one liaison position. Liaisons perform specific duties for each class meeting. If you are a liaison for a class or seminar, the full amount of your tuition is covered by Literary Arts.
Apply here for the liaison position.
Miranda Schmidt
Miranda Schmidt is the author of the novel Leafskin (Stillhouse Press 2025). Their writing circles folklore, ecology, and queer magic and has appeared in Triquarterly, Orion, Electric Literature, Catapult, and more. With an MFA from the University of Washington and PhD from Bath Spa University, they have taught creative writing at Portland Community College, University of Washington, the Loft, and the Portland Book Festival. Their newsletter and teaching project, Writing Toward Nature, explores methods for bringing the more-than-human more deeply into our writing craft. Miranda lives in Portland, Oregon.
