Introduction to the World of Creative Writing

Introduction to the World of Creative Writing

Course Description

Time to write that book? Short story? Poem? Screenplay? I’ll help you achieve your goal. All levels of writers, brand-new writers to published authors, welcome. Ages 12 and above. Here’s what we’ll learn:

                             How to get it written

Week 1:              Hour 1: Use brainstorming and freewriting to get words on the page every day.

                             Hour 2: What do we mean when we say a novel, short story, or poem is “good?”

Week 2:              Hour 1: Who or what is stopping us from writing? We’ll discuss Gail Godwin’s essay, “The Watcher at the Gates.”

Hour 2: The structure of every novel and short story ever written: Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder

                             How to organize what you write

Week 3:              Hour 1:  Using Save the Cat! to organize your tale. Group writing.

Hour 2: Cementing the structure in your brain by discussing “Five Tuesdays in Winter” and a Pixar cartoon: “Snow Globe.”

How to publish what you write

Week 4:              Hour 1: Why you should traditionally publish and forget self-publishing.

                             Hour 2: Guest speaker discussing the above.

Week 5:              Hour 1: Why you should self-publish and forget traditional publishing.

                             Hour 2: Self-published author Mary Walsh on how to do it and why.

Week 6:              Hour 1: TBA

                             Hour 2: Final reflection: what have you learned, and what’s your next step?

Note: I ask that you write about 3 pages / day every day at home for the duration of this course. Any topic. Any style. Any number of words. I also ask that at least once a week you share your writing with me so we may celebrate your accomplishment!