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.