Course Content
What do students learn?
In ALL of my classes, workshops and camps (whether face-to-face or online) my focus is on having fun and building students’ confidence.
In class students PRACTICE the key skills in writing fiction. These skills are honed and developed over time. They take practice and repetition to develop. The more a student revises these skills, the more confident and fluent their writing becomes. Skills are revisited every term, building and developing on what has gone before.
Creating believable and interesting characters
- Interviewing Characters.
- Writing Character Curriculum Vitae’s.
- Revealing character through conflict and action. (Showing not telling)
Writing believable dialogue
- Punctuating Dialogue.
- Writing speech and action tag lines.
- Revealing Character through dialogue (Showing not telling)
- Giving each character a distinct voice.
Plot
- Beginning your story – grabbing the reader’s attention.
- Structuring your story – beginning, middle, climax, and wrapping up the loose ends.
- The Hero’s Journey.
Setting
- Write vivid description of place using the fives senses
- Create mood and atmosphere using place
- Creating brand new worlds
Point of View and Voice
- Who is telling the story?
- First person, second person, third person and omniscient narrators
Pace
- High paced action stories
- Slow paced descriptive stories
Completing your Story
- Finishing with a twist.
- Editing your work.
- Submitting your work to magazines/competitions.
Students are encouraged to read out their work aloud in class, but are never forced. They receive supportive and constructive feedback. Classes are suitable for every type of child with every type of learning need. All are welcome. If you would like more information, please contact me through the contact page.
