MasterClass Expands Literary Category with Award-Winning Writer Joyce Carol Oates Teaching the Art of the Short Story

SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MasterClass, the online education company that enables anyone to learn from the best in the world, announces award-winning writer, thinker and humanitarian, Joyce Carol Oates, for its first-ever course on short stories. Available exclusively at www.masterclass.com/jco, Oates's class will help writers at all levels think about their works in new ways by introducing innovative strategies to be implemented in both short and long form writing. Students can access this course and more than 60 MasterClass courses by subscribing to the All-Access Pass for $180 per year. Other MasterClass categories that can be accessed through the All-Access Pass include business, culinary arts, film & television, music & entertainment, photography, sports and more.

"Joyce is one of today's most powerful writers and a master of the short story," said David Rogier, co-founder and CEO of MasterClass. "She's unafraid to explore taboo and the darker side of humanity. She pushes all of us to explore our daily scramble for existence. She's an amazing teacher and we are honored to have her on MasterClass."

With a career spanning more than 50 years, Oates has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled mastery across a range of literary genres. Having published her first novel, With Shuddering Fall, in 1962, Oates's impact on literature and poetry was swift and significant, winning the National Book Award just seven years later for her novel, them. Since then, Oates has received many of the industry's most coveted honors including two O. Henry Awards for short fiction, the National Humanities Medal for her contribution to the humanities, the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Story and recognition as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for three of her novels and two collections of short stories. Her contributions to the form remain timeless and impactful -- a fact that was recognized in 2019 when Oates was chosen as the recipient of the Jerusalem Prize, which is awarded to writers exploring themes of "freedom of the individual in society" throughout their body of work. Beyond the accolades that her poems, essays, novels, and plays have received, Oates's oeuvre is celebrated and studied by many for its deeply complex themes and depictions of the horrors of everyday life.

"Writing is about taking risks and exploring the things that often scare us most in our own lives," said Joyce Carol Oates. "In my course, I want students to walk away with more than just a better understanding of structure, language and pacing -- I want students to find the confidence to tell stories within themselves that they never realized existed."

Designed for beginning to intermediate-level students who write or would like to write fiction, Oates's course will not only help users become better writers of short stories but also teach them new strategies for thinking about their work. Students will have a unique opportunity to explore the art and craft of reading and writing short fiction from the prolific literary legend and esteemed writer. Starting with foundational skills, Oates explores methods for finding ideas in the world and shaping them into stories, as well as completing short pieces to help build confidence as a writer. Oates's course pushes students to access new ideas, by using short-form fiction to craft longer, more complex narratives. More seasoned writers will benefit from developing a mastery of editing and critical thinking. 

MasterClass continues to expand and grow its catalogue of categories, bringing leading instructors to its engaged base of members. MasterClass provides a library of educational, inspiring, and engaging content you can't find anywhere else. With more than 60 classes that dive into processes, techniques, and philosophies, MasterClass helps students progress more rapidly towards their own mastery, explore new passions, and learn new skills. It offers a unique learning experience—including video lessons, course materials, peer interaction, and more. Students can subscribe for unlimited access to all new and existing classes through the All-Access Pass for $180 per year, or enroll in an individual class for a one-time purchase of $90. Courses can be accessed online at www.masterclass.com, the MasterClass mobile app for iOS and Android, and Apple TV.

Embed & view the trailer for Joyce Carol Oates's MasterClass below:
https://youtu.be/DPeNFzqctxw

Download stills here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rqygaowsuf0hq7w/AADq0NJrfuaSsNEdpp3wOaTGa?dl=0
Credit: Courtesy of MasterClass

ABOUT MASTERCLASS
Founded in 2015, MasterClass started with the idea that everyone should have "access to genius." The online education platform provides affordable, engaging, and inspirational online classes taught by world-renowned instructors, making it possible for anyone to learn from the best.

MasterClass's current roster of courses includes:

Business: Howard Schultz (business leadership)

Culinary Arts: Gordon Ramsay (cooking), Alice Waters (home cooking), Thomas Keller (cooking techniques), Wolfgang Puck (cooking), Dominique Ansel (French pastry), James Suckling (wine appreciation), Aaron Franklin (Texas BBQ), Massimo Bottura (Italian cooking)

Film and Television: Werner Herzog (filmmaking), Martin Scorsese (filmmaking), Ron Howard (directing), Spike Lee (filmmaking), Mira Nair (independent filmmaking), Jodie Foster (filmmaking), Ken Burns (documentary filmmaking), Helen Mirren (acting), Samuel L. Jackson (acting), Judd Apatow (comedy), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriting), Shonda Rhimes (writing for television), Natalie Portman (acting), David Lynch (creativity and filmmaking)

Music and Entertainment: Steve Martin (comedy), Christina Aguilera (singing), Usher (performance), Reba McEntire (country music), Herbie Hancock (jazz), Deadmau5 (music production), Armin van Buuren (dance music), Hans Zimmer (film scoring), Tom Morello (electric guitar), Carlos Santana (art and soul of guitar), Timbaland (producing and beatmaking), Penn & Teller (magic), Itzhak Perlman (violin)

Writing: James Patterson (writing), David Mamet (dramatic writing), Judy Blume (writing), Malcolm Gladwell (writing), R.L. Stine (writing for young audiences), Margaret Atwood (creative writing), Dan Brown (writing thrillers), Neil Gaiman (storytelling), Billy Collins (poetry), David Baldacci (mystery and thriller writing), Joyce Carol Oates (short fiction)

Photography: Annie Leibovitz (photography), Jimmy Chin (adventure photography)

Design and Fashion: Frank Gehry (architecture), Diane von Furstenberg (how to build a fashion brand), Marc Jacobs (fashion design)

Sports and Games: Serena Williams (tennis), Stephen Curry (shooting, ball-handling, and scoring), Garry Kasparov (chess), Daniel Negreanu (poker), Phil Ivey (poker strategy)

Politics and Society: Jane Goodall (conservation), Bob Woodward (investigative journalism), Karl Rove and David Axelrod (political campaign strategy), Paul Krugman (economics and society)

Science and Technology: Chris Hadfield (space exploration), Will Wright (game design)

For more information, please visit www.masterclass.com.

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Facebook @masterclassofficial

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