Bring Your Story to the Stage

This class is for anyone ready to take a personal 5-minute story and actively shape it for an audience. You’ll work hands-on with one story. Drafting, refining, and testing it aloud. We’ll focus on structure, pacing, and point of view, helping you find the spine of the story and decide what belongs in this particular version of the story and what doesn’t. You’ll practice starting strong, building momentum, and landing the story with intention. Taught by BACKFENCE Storytelling producers and hosts Frayn Masters and Ash Allen, this class is ideal if you’ve taken Small Stories, Big Meaning or already have a personal story you’re curious to bring forward—whether for a stage, or simply to hear it land out loud. Rather than “performing,” this class emphasizes shaping a vulnerable narrative. You’ll receive demonstrations and feedback on mic use, voice, presence, and timing in a supportive room, with clear guidance. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have: • A shaped draft you can continue developing • Practical tools for revising and rehearsing • Greater confidence telling a personal story aloud • A clearer sense of how you want to show up onstage You set the pace. Participation is encouraged but never forced. The goal is clarity, connection, and momentum—not polish or performance. strong>Access Program We want our classes and seminars to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and seminar tuitions at a reduced rate. Most 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.