Write Now: The Narrative Triptych—a 4-week creative incubator for introverts

We know sometimes generative workshops can leave you with an overwhelming amount of raw material. In this four-part series (guided by videos featuring our resident mermaid Lidia Yuknavitch) you’ll read, get inspired and discover the germ of an idea, write it, revise it, and finish it—and for those interested in publication, we’ll offer strategies towards that end as well.

This is the Introvert edition of The Narrative Braid — you’ll receive access to four weekly videos, along with readings and writing portals, to work through on your own time, at your own pace. We sometimes offer Extrovert modules that put writers together in groups. You can check in with Daniel at registration@corporealwriting.com if you want to know of any Extrovert groups starting up soon.

What is a Narrative Triptych?

A painted or carved triptych typically has three hinged panels, and the two outer panels can be folded in towards the central one. A literary or musical triptych generally consists of three closely related or contrasting themes or parts. Triptych derives from the Greek triptychos ("having three folds"), formed by combining tri- ("three") and ptychē ("fold" or "layer"). 

Although triptych originally described a specific type of Roman writing tablet that had three hinged sections, it is not surprising that the idea was generalized first to a type of painting, and then to anything composed of three parts.

The triptychs most etched on Lidia’s brain are Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, Ruben's Elevation of the Cross, and Bacon's Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion. There are MANY religious triptychs as well as some amazing contemporary triptychs painted by women, POC, and LGBTQ artists. Modern triptychs occur in photography as well as painting, and really in all art forms including theater, dance, etc…

A Narrative Triptych draws from the concept of the three-paneled image creating a 3-section sequence with language. There are endless ways to create a triptych: by topic, theme, image, interlocking parts, circularity, etc…The main idea is that the story/poem/whatever happens in three pieces, or acts, or layers, or however you want to think about it. 

In this Write Now Creative Incubator we will explore examples of narrative triptychs, develop a variety of strategies for creating narrative triptychs, and within a four week incubation period, BOOM, emerge with a triptych either under development or complete.

• Week One :: Examples and dialogue, homework experiments.

• Week Two :: strategies for creating triptychs, homework for real

• Week Three :: more strategies for going deeper into your triptych, micro generative revision strategies

• Week Four :: Behold the Triptych, celebrate your triptych, BUT ALSO, some “what else” strategies to consider

Above Image: Triptych, August 1972 by Francis Bacon

Payment plans are always available. Please contact Daniel Elder at registration@corporealwriting.com to set one up or if you are feeling challenged by the financial requirements of this offering.