
Advanced Fiction (WH Self Study #5)
Advanced Fiction includes four full seminars that were originally produced for my Writers' Huddle members-only site, and which are now available on a self-study basis.
The seminars are:
Story Ideas: Where to Find Them and How to Evaluate Them, covering:
- Coming up with ideas when you might be struggling, without forcing them
- Possible sources of inspiration for new ideas
- Evaluating whether an idea warrants further exploration
- Selecting the best story length for the subsequent project
Heroes & Villains, with Lorna Fergusson, covering:
- The difference between “heroes” and “protagonists”
- Key characteristics of well-written heroes and villains
- How flawed your heroes can be (including in children’s fiction)
- How anti-heroes differ from regular heroes
Handling Viewpoint in Fiction, covering:
- Why viewpoint is so important (but often overlooked)
- Using first and third person viewpoint effectively
- Handling multiple viewpoints in one novel
- Choosing between past and present tense
Seven Ways to Add Depth to Your Characters, covering:
- The importance of memorable characters
- Using backstory and flashbacks
- Understanding their perspective and giving them a voice
- Balancing character and plot
- Engaging character dynamics and interactions
All seminars are audio mp3s. Each seminar comes with a full, nicely edited transcript, plus a downloadable worksheet that includes a summary and suggested further reading.