Move from an instinctual to an intellectual understanding of good storytelling – so you can help authors transform muddled manuscripts into sterling stories.
This is the tutored version of the course. Modules will be released every fortnight, and you'll have two weeks to complete the associated assignment. You'll receive detailed, personalised feedback on your work.
Course outline
Introduction
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
Module 1: Skills, Role and Mindset
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days
days
after you enroll
- 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
- Assignment 1
- 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
Available in
days
days
after you enroll
- 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
- Assignment 2
- BONUS: Genre Cheat Sheet
- BONUS: Novel Beginning Check List
- BONUS: Novel Ending Check List
Module 3: Tangled Plots and Saggy Middles
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days
days
after you enroll
- 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
- Assignment 3
- BONUS: Archetypal plot point analysis of a published novel
- BONUS: The 8 basic plots
Module 4: Character and Dialogue
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days
days
after you enroll
- 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
- Assignment 4
- BONUS: Novels without villains – Case study (4:39)
- BONUS: What makes great characters
Module 5: Point of View
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days
days
after you enroll
- 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
- Assignment 5
Module 6: Meaning & Style Through Theme & Voice
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days
days
after you enroll
BONUS: Novels in a Series
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days
days
after you enroll
Closing Notes
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days
days
after you enroll