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Developmental Editing: Fiction Theory
Introduction
Welcome
How the course works
Upgrading to the tutored version
All downloadable files
Module 1: Skills, Role and Mindset
Introduction
What is a developmental edit and who needs one? (4:48)
What is writing-craft theory? (1:55)
Becoming a critical reader & how to read analytically (5:46)
How to analyse what you read (4:31)
Learning to read fast (3:58)
The death of the author – and the editor as medium (6:13)
Test your understanding
Summary
BONUS: Analytical reading – The Catcher in the Rye (4:12)
BONUS: Analytical reading – The Road (5:16)
BONUS: Analytical reading – Beloved (3:28)
Module 2: Common Basic Manuscript Issues
Introduction
Weak premise (3:27)
Unclear, misidentified or misunderstood genre (3:33)
Unclear narrative question (3:38)
Ineffective use of scenes and narrative summary (5:44)
What about 'show, don't tell'? (3:21)
Weak, misplaced or irrelevant beginnings (4:42)
Unsatisfactory and abrupt endings (4:26)
Test your understanding
Summary
BONUS: Genre Cheat Sheet
BONUS: Novel Beginning Check List
BONUS: Novel Ending Check List
Module 3: Tangled Plots and Saggy Middles
Introduction
The difference between story and plot (8:37)
Understanding narrative arc (3:30)
How conflict and tension drive plot (3:23)
Major (or archetypal) plot points (6:47)
Too much or too little story (3:09)
Scene construction (1:36)
Prologues and epilogues (2:49)
How subplots work (2:36)
Test your understanding
Summary
BONUS: Archetypal plot point analysis of a published novel
BONUS: The 8 basic plots
Module 4: Character and Dialogue
Introduction
How character and plot are inextricably linked (3:30)
Character arcs (4:10)
How the positive character arc correlates to the archetypal plot points (2:41)
Beyond the protagonist: considering the cast (3:22)
How many characters? (2:47)
Beyond the protagonist: villains and antagonists (4:01)
When characters speak – assessing dialogue (7:51)
Six common dialogue pitfalls (3:49)
Test your understanding
Summary
BONUS: Novels without villains – Case study (4:39)
BONUS: What makes great characters
Module 5: Point of View
Introduction
What is ‘point of view’ and why does it matter so much? (1:00)
The difference between author, narrator and viewpoint character (5:21)
First person POV (3:57)
Second person POV (2:02)
Third-person objective POV (2:39)
Third-person subjective (or limited) POV (3:40)
Omniscient POV (3:18)
Head-hopping (4:15)
Handling multiple points of view (1:59)
Test your understanding
Summary
Module 6: Meaning & Style Through Theme & Voice
Introduction
The importance of theme (5:11)
How theme links to titles (2:03)
How theme links to character and plot (4:00)
How voice works in fiction (5:50)
Writing style – what to consider (6:18)
Test your understanding
Summary
BONUS: Novels in a Series
Introduction
Thinking differently
Ideas
Outlining the series
Narrative arcs
A closer look at trilogies
Characters
Closing Notes
Next steps
Unclear, misidentified or misunderstood genre
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