This week on the Story Works Round Table, we talk about Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton’s great American tragic love story.
SWRT Summer 2023
At this week’s Story Works Round Table, writers discuss the benefits of group coaching. Next month begins the writers book club and more!
SWRT 014 | Foreshadowing Redux with Mike Stop Continues
Since our last conversation about foreshadowing created more questions than answers we decided to try again! Here we lay down a solid definition of foreshadowing and talk about why you want to do it, and how to do it well. What elements in your story can foreshadowing be used in? Does it require hindsight? And are you opening loops? Or providing answers to questions the reader hasn’t even thought to ask?
SWRT 013 | Plotting Science Fiction with Chris Fox
How important is the science in science fiction? What are some conventions of science fiction? And when should you break them? How can you use names to bridge the familiar and unfamiliar? And are there any genres you can’t mash in with science fiction?
SWRT 012 | Foreshadowing
As a writer, do you consciously try for foreshadowing, or is it a miraculous surprise? What feeling should foreshadowing give the reader? And what are the differences between foreshadowing, laying clues, or layering plot elements? What truly is the nuance of this portion of the craft, and is it okay that all of us have different definitions?
SWRT 011 | Openings – Reading/Reacting
We take a deep dive into three sample openings from literary novels. Want to know what your readers latch on to? How do you deliver a strong character in just a few paragraphs? And can you telegraph what your story is about in such a small space? What are the most important elements of an opening? And do we want to keep reading?
SWRT 010 | Genre Series: Mystery Plots with Sara Rosett
What makes a mystery plot different from other kinds of genre plots? When should your body show up? And how do you finesse the art of keeping readers in suspense? When and how should you craft your twists, and how do point of view and genre limit your mystery plot points? And how do you keep your protagonist from just calling the police?
SWRT 009 | Middle Grade Fantasy with Alina Sayre
How does a writers philosophy of writing affect their voice? And how does the canon of literature you grew up on help you develop as a writer? What are the differences between middle grade and adult fantasy? And what is a middle grade reader looking for? Can you write to specific themes within a middle grade book? And how do you get those children to sound like children while still driving your story? Above all, it’s all about staying true to your own voice and who you are as a writer!
SWRT 008: Making the Unfamiliar Familiar
What does it mean to make the unfamiliar familiar? And what parts of your story does that apply to? What is our rule of thumb and why would you want to break it? How should you approach culture? And how often should you touch on new things? Don’t forget, your unique things are what hook the reader!
SWRT 007 | Arcless Protagonists
Is it even possible to have an arcless protagonist? What is an arcless protagonist? After diving into some famous and beloved arcless protagonists, we dive into how to make it work. How can you use your secondary characters to create emotional resonance? And how can you keep that emotional buy in through a series? Do you need the same supporting characters around your arcless protagonist? And what are some of the drawbacks to using one? Just remember: an arcless protagonist is the exception, not the rule!
SWRT 006 | Genre Series: Science Fiction with Chris Fox
How did Chris Fox start writing science fiction? And how can you write a science fiction book with limited research? What is classic science fiction about anyway, and how does it compare with today? If you want to write science fiction, what are some technological and science based tropes you should be aware of? And how should you approach alien characters? Don’t make your readers work too hard! And how can you make tropes work for you?