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Francesca Lia Block’s monthly workshops generate powerful inspiration and creativity in a safe, supportive environment. 

 

Novel Writing II: Writing A Novel the Professional Way

Ten weeks starting Saturday April 9th for 10 consecutive Saturdays
 email francescaliablock@sbcglobal.net for more information
$450.00

  

For all students with a work-in progress, the goal of this class is to complete at least 50 well-executed pages and be prepared to complete the rest of the novel with confidence in both story-telling ability and technique.

Course Requirements

· Complete the first 50 pages of your novel and submit portions for in-class critique via email ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR CRITIQUE DATE

· Participate in a constructive manner in ONLINE manuscript critique and class discussion

Work-Shopping Guidelines

Sharing our manuscripts can be a very emotional, exposing experience. Please, above all, be kind and respectful of one another. Try to focus on the technical aspects of the writing and not judge or critique the writer as a person.

Be specific and constructive in your criticism. In other words, don’t just say, “That was great,” or “I didn’t like that” but express exactly why something worked or didn’t work for you. Always try to start with positive, honest feedback. If something does not work for you, use the principles we have learned in class and your own knowledge of literature to express specifically why it might not work. You may offer suggestions as to how to solve the problem but it is not necessary to do so. Try to avoid being overly didactic if you do suggest specific changes. A calm, neutral and observant tone is best.

Stay focused on the work at hand and do not divert onto unrelated topics. It goes without saying that you should avoid personal attack or insults of any kind.

 

Recommended Reading List

Bird by Bird by Anne LaMotte

On Writing by Stephen King

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

 

Course Outline

 

Week One

· Writing Exercise: What is your book about? What is your genre? Time period covered? Location?

· Writing Exercise: What are your strengths and why? What are your challenges? What are your goals?

Week 2

· Manuscript Critiques

· Discussion: What makes a successful premise?

· Writing Exercise: Outline your premise

Week 3

· Manuscript Critiques

· Discussion: Plot: Five essential elements

· Writing Exercise: How will you use the five essential elements in your plot?

Week 4

· Manuscript Critiques

· Discussion: Character and Point of View

· Writing Exercise: Developing sympathetic and complex characters

Week 5

· Manuscript Critiques

· Discussion: Conflict and Complications

· Writing Exercise: Developing conflicts and complications in your novel.

Week 6

· Manuscript Critiques of student pages (2-3 students)

· Discussion: Climax

· Writing Exercise: What is the climax of your novel?

Week 7

· Manuscript Critiques of student pages (2-3 students)

· Discussion: Resolution

· Writing Exercise: Some possible resolutions

Week 8

· Manuscript Critiques of student pages (2-3 students)

· Discussion: Setting

· Writing Exercise: Details, psychological resonance and conflict in setting

Week 9

· Manuscript Critiques of student pages (2-3 students)

· Discussion: Theme

· Writing Exercise: Write your convictions. Are they expressed in your theme? Is your theme in-depth but familiar? How do symbols express your theme?

Week 10

· Manuscript Critiques

· Review