Many writers find plot scary, or feel it has to be instinctive. This class is here to tell you that isn’t the case. There are formulas and guidelines you can use to give your story the bones it needs to feel satisfying and complete to the reader. The first session will cover beginnings and endings, the second common plot formulas and how to complicate them, the third will tackle twists and messy middles, and the fourth will look at structure overall. Everyone should leave this class with a useful outline for a project of their choosing.
To access the asynchronous course, you will need to click on this Google Classroom link.
This course is asynchronous and lasts for four weeks.
Course Itinerary
- Intro Video: What is plot and why can we teach it?
- Assigned Reading 1: Short flash-fiction
- Video 2: Thoughts on the reading and why it works. MICE method
- Exercise One: Beginnings and Endings
- Video 3: Messy Middles – logical progression, coincidences, twists
- Assigned Reading 2: Something with a cool twist!
- Exercise Two: Twists
- Video 4: Formula is Your Friend
- Assigned Reading 3: TBD
- Exercise Three: Steal a Bedtime Story Plot
- Video 5: Plot via Character or Theme
- Exercise Four: Character Map
- Final video 6: What does Structure Do for a Story?
- Final Exercise: Plot outline.