Saturday, August 2nd | Many writers don’t really understand what a publisher wants. That’s because writing and storytelling are not the same. Writing gorgeous sentences is one thing. Telling a story with suspense and stakes is another. Great writers do both–and you can too. In this workshop you’ll examine and revise the beginning of your novel to help you blend beautiful prose and tight, consequential plot to create pages that draw your readers in.
We’ll examine short excerpts of great novels, stories, children’s books and more to level up your writing with relatable characterization, deep emotion, conflict, tension, and big themes. This is a generative revision workshop with a lot of writing to prompts, and you will learn some concrete strategies to whip your novel’s beginning into shape.
Bring the first 5 pages of your novel in progress either in hard copy or on your computer. If you want to work from hard copy, please have sticky notes and three colors of highlighters or colored pencils. This class is for all levels and genres.
Optional add-on: After the workshop, students have 10 days to send their revised first 5 pages to receive written feedback for an additional $40. Feedback will be given within two weeks of submission.