Do you have exciting stories, plots or characters dancing around in your head? Do you have a life experience or lesson to share, but don’t know where to begin? This workshop is designed for those of you interested in entering the realm of creative writing for the first time. Our emphasis is on introducing you to the creative writing process. We’ll explore topics such as setting up your writing environment, creating plots, building characters, writing dialog and editing.
Course Outline:
Lesson 1: Getting Started
First things first! This lesson introduces you to the basic tools of the trade and environment for writing. We will discuss different types of writing instruments, ways to capture story and how to choose a writing environment.
Lesson 2: Letting Creative Juices Flow
Staring at a blank page can be unsettling if you’re new to writing. In this lesson, we discuss ways to get those creative juices flowing in preparation for a writing session. We’ll also address the value and process of setting writing goals.
Lesson 3: Building the Plot and Story
Think of plot and story as the meat and potatoes of writing a story. In this lesson, we explore the difference between these two terms, how they work together and how we create them.
Lesson 4: Characters are Everything
No amount of ingenious plot and story can pull in a reader if the characters are dull, lifeless and unlikable. In this lesson, we discover ways to create well-developed, multi-layered characters.
Lesson 5: Writing Dialog for the Reader
Writing compelling dialog that fits perfectly with a character is an art. It’s more than putting words on a page. It starts with listening and requires developing a good ear. In this lesson, we reveal some rules, pitfalls and tips that can help you to master writing realistic dialog.
Lesson 6: The Magic of Words
In this lesson, we discuss the value of word economy, how to write with description and how the way you put words together can evoke all types of feelings and pictures in the mind of the reader.
Lesson 7: The Power of Editing
In this final lesson, the focus is on taking your story to the next level or next draft, through editing. Many successful authors go through two or three revisions of a story before finalizing it. Those editing sessions are crucial, and address plot, story, character, dialog and of course, grammar and formatting.
