Starting Your Novel: Get a Foothold on Your Project

Writing a successful novel demands a lot of a writer. Novelists need to develop convincing characters, craft a gripping plot, create settings that make their story vivid, and write in a voice that makes their work unique.

“In this workshop, we’ll talk about your idea and make sure it has enough weight to carry a novel,” says instructor Karen Bjorneby. “We’ll talk about your character and make sure she’s so compelling we all can’t wait to find out what she’ll do next. We’ll talk about plot – how are you going to make enough things happen? And we’ll talk about structure – how do you organize this huge thing and not get overwhelmed?”

With the help of various writing exercises, class members will work on developing written plot summaries, making sure there’s enough action and enough character development. We’ll share tips on the process, on getting the pages written, on keeping going, on when to go back and revise and when to keep moving ahead.

“Our goal is to get you so close to your main character you’ll know all his secrets, hopes, fears, dreams – better than his own therapist would!” says Karen. “We’ll also do writing exercises to help you connect with your setting. And you’ll share what you’ve written, so that you’ll get feedback on your craft, your style, and on that special quality you bring to your writing that makes it uniquely yours.”