You know the feeling – when you start a book and immediately suspend disbelief to fall into the story world. As authors, we know that this isn’t easy to do. It takes more than a good scene. It takes a maestro of craft to pull it off.
This is a writing master class. If you’re past problems with POV, character development and stage direction, this class will help you understand the subtle nuances that can be the difference between a ‘good writer’ and a popular author.
Writing is work. You’ve heard the saying, “You have to learn the rules to break them.” Cliché or not, good writers understand the basics. They know how to write tight. They know how to write strong. They know how to write compelling, powerful stories.
In this class, dig deep into realistic and driven dialogue. Discover the impact of a clearly written setting. Explore character, conflict, and story arc. Learn how to use plot, placing, and tension to propel your story forward.
Writing is work. But writing can also be fun. Join me in Battling the Basics and take the first step toward seeing your name on the bestseller list.
Sheila Currie will provide information about the names of the clans, their locations, and their feuds and fights. You’ll also gain insights about daily life: making a living, keeping families strong and how to marry. Marriage was different in the Highlands. Very different.
How do you know you’re in Scotland when you read a Scottish novel? How much background should you include? Will you sprinkle a little magic in your story? Writing a great Scottish story means more than a list of dates. Blah. What are the sources for learning all this? Yes, you need history, but also folklore, a few words of Scottish Gaelic, customs, and insights into the society of the Scottish Highlands—the clans.
This hands-on class helps writers understand how POV works, from the basics of knowing which POV you are in, to the more in-depth technique of using POV to build stronger reader/character relationships and create intense emotion. Hands-on homework will have students diving deep into their scenes to create more memorable moments in their character’s head.
Whichever you choose, be ready for daily support, accountability, check-ins, revision lessons, plenty of camaraderie, inspiration, and productivity. No more writer’s solitary confinement.
Set GOALS. For the month, the week, the day. And then. . .
REVISE. REVISE. REVISE.
Novel, short stories, query, synopsis. Your choice. Your goals.
Power up your setting can not only help you overcome but even deepen the other core aspects of your story! No matter how much you love your story, characters, and world, surprisingly, not everyone always feels the love.
Often it is because writers tend to forget what some may consider the ugly duckling of a story’s core elements. SETTING! With so many writing-balls to keep in the air; plot, character, rising tension, action, theme, conflict, motivation—just to name a few—sometimes the where of the story gets a bit lost.
In Story Structure Safari, you will explore the story structure elements, transformational character arcs, and plot that make up powerful, bestselling stories. You will learn how to analyze examples, from bestselling novels, movies, or TV shows, for each story element or concept. A variety of activities and techniques help you hone your skills and infuse these elements and concepts into your own story. You’ll receive feedback from the instructor, and often from other classmates, to aid in your understanding of the concepts as you apply them to your story.
© 2023 Margie Lawson, all rights reserved.
