Unlock Your Story: Character, Plot, and Meaning

“You know that feeling when a story you’re writing finally clicks into place,” says instructor Karen Bjorneby. “For many of us, that moment arrives once we discover how character, plot, and meaning interlock, supporting and enriching one another. Until that time, we may feel like our story has no direction or purpose, that our characters are voiceless, even hollow.”

This class is designed to help you make your own short story, memoir, or novel click into place. If you have strong characters but no plot, we’ll dig deeply into characters’ secret hearts to discover a story nestled inside. If you have a plot idea but no characters, we’ll explore characters who could drive the story. Then we’ll develop a plot from beginning to end. In a free-flowing exchange, we’ll discuss your thoughts about your story’s meaning, then connect those to character and plot.

By the end of the class, in addition to the writing you will have done on your story, you will have created a set of character studies, a rough plot outline and synopsis, and a draft premise statement or elevator pitch. Plan to complete 3-5 pages of homework every week, with the chance to submit 10 pages to the group as a whole for brief discussion, with written feedback provided by the instructor. Short story writers, memoirists, and novelists are all welcome!