Fiction Writer’s Toolkit

Whatever kind of stories you aspire to tell—whether from life experience or imagination, whether short or novel length, realistic or fantastical, for children or adults—you’ll want to discover the tools and develop the skills that fiction writers use to bring their stories to life. We’ll start with various ways that writers organize their work. We will then study our choices about point of view, narrative style, and story structure. We will look at what hooks readers, what keeps them in their seats, and what leaves them satisfied, in terms of character, plot, and thematic elements. Finally, we will practice getting and giving constructive feedback. Do the writing assignments each week and you will leave the session with a narrative well-started, with plans for how to finish it, and a bundle of tools and insights for success as a writer!