For the full eight-day combined session of Beyond the Breakout Small Group Intensive.
What pulls a reader in from the very first lines? What holds their imagination long after the last words of a story are read? Strong scenes made up of compelling characters, stirring emotions, and moments of discovery. During this workshop, we will consider how a captivating opening scene piques a reader’s curiosity, introduces characters, conflicts and questions that will guide the rest of the story. While an unforgettable ending, answers questions, resolves conflicts, and often speaks to something larger than simply the story itself. Through understanding the purpose of our stories, we can begin to understand what is needed to draw readers in from the very first page and hold them captive until the very last lines.
Starting a novel is easy. Finishing is hard. Finishing is what distinguishes wannabe writers from professionals. It is an essential skill and yet finishing is often overlooked—or even omitted entirely—from the checklist of elements a writer must master if they wish to be successful. There is nothing mystical about finishing. It is a discipline that can be developed, a habit that can be ingrained into one’s writing practice if approached with a clear and thoughtful mindset. In this seminar, we’ll break down the stages of writing a novel, pinpoint where writers and stories often fall by the wayside and explore practical ways to overcome these traps and push through to the promised land.
