The Radical East Asian Four-Act Structure

Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators. This workshop explores expressions of diversity that go beyond just plopping different faces into stories that are 100 percent Western in spirit. It examines the East Asian four-act structure (one form of which is known as Kishōtenketsu), which radically departs from requirements of the Western three-act structure such as conflict and symmetry, explores how Eastern value systems such as collectivism can dictate form, and teaches the radical aesthetic effects possible only in the four-act structure.

Students will read lessons from the instructor’s book on this subject. The book and the course are built around case studies such as the film Parasite, the work of Haruki Murakami, and Nintendo video games. The coursework includes extensive writing in response to surgically directed prompts to help students learn the contours of a very different way of telling stories. The course teaches practical, specific craft techniques for writers of all backgrounds to attempt the four-act structure and Trojan Horse their experiments past Western gatekeepers.

The course is intended for writers of all genres, including but not limited to fantasy, science fiction, and horror, and all reader age ranges, from young readers through adult.

It will be most valuable for intermediate or advanced writers.

Students must be ready to hear about the weaknesses in their writing and work to strengthen them. Students must also be ready to give feedback to their classmates that is both truthful and helpful.

Our goal as a class is to provide a supportive yet challenging environment that will help students improve their writing.

Each student will have a private, individual meeting with the instructor.

Henry Lien is a graduate of Brown University, UCLA School of Law, and Clarion West Writers’ Workshop. He is the author of the Peasprout Chen fantasy series (Holt) and the non-fiction book Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling (W.W. Norton). His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist and New York Times acclaim. His writing has appeared in publications including Literary Hub, Poets & Writers, Asimov’s, Analog, and F&SF, and he is a four-time Nebula Award finalist. Henry also teaches for institutions including the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, the University of Iowa, Clarion West, and Writing the Other. He won the UCLA Extension Department of the Arts Outstanding Instructor of the Year Award. Henry has previously worked as an attorney and fine art dealer. He has been invited to speak about his work by the Library of Congress, Lectures on Tap, and Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater. Born in Taiwan, Henry currently lives in Hollywood, California. Hobbies include writing and performing campy anthems for his books and losing Nebula Awards. www.henrylien.com