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The Art of Plot: How to Plot and Structure Your Novel
Introduction and Resources
Welcome
VIDEO: Best Books for Writers (5:30) (5:50)
VIDEO: Generating Ideas for Novels & Stories (11:49)
Week 1: Plotting from Chapter 1
Lesson 1: Plotting from Chapter 1
Lesson 2: VIDEO: What Your First Chapter Must Do (15:15)
Lesson 3: VIDEO: Reading like a writer: The Talented Mr. Ripley (15:31)
Lesson 4: A Few Great Novel Beginnings
Download: Novel Planning Worksheets
Assignment 1
Week One Discussion
Week 2: Identifying Your Plot Type, + Plot by the Numbers
Lesson 5: Cause & Effect, Three Kinds of Plot, and the Balance of Plot
Lesson 6: VIDEO: Plot by the Numbers (19:10)
Lesson 7: VIDEO: Reading like a writer: Plot twists & shifts in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Chapters 7-12 (4:32)
Q&A: VIDEO: Do you begin with story or with character? (3:46)
Assignment 2
Week 2 Discussion
Week 3: The Art of Suspense
Lesson 8: The Art of Suspense
Lesson 9: VIDEO: Creating Suspense in Literary and Genre Fiction (12:05)
Lesson 10: Practical Tips: Editing for Suspense
Download: Suspense Check Worksheet
Assignment 3
Week 3 Discussion
Week 4: Shaping Scenes & Chapters
Lesson 11: VIDEO: Everything You Need to Know About Scenes and Chapters (16:40) (16:39)
Lesson 12: Shaping Scenes & Chapters
Assignment 4
Week 4 Discussion
Week 5: Pacing and Subplot
Lesson 13: VIDEO: Secrets of Pacing - How to Compress & Expand Time (3:30)
Lesson 14: Patterning, Pacing, and Subplot
Lesson 15: VIDEO: Identifying Your Subplot (4:28)
Lesson 16: VIDEO: Dialogue & Pacing (3:29)
Lesson 17: Managing Parallel Plots
Assignment 5
Week 5 Discussion
Week 6: Making an Awesome Story Chart, & Screenwriting Principles for Novelists
Lesson 18: VIDEO: How to Create a Story Chart That Works (9:51)
Plotting with a Story Chart
Lesson 19: Screenwriting Principles for Novelists
Assignment 6
Week 6 Discussion
Week 7 - The Magic 85%: Writing the Novel's Climax
Lesson 20: Secrets of Structure: The Magic 85%
Lesson 21: Writing Your Novel's Climax (5:26)
Lesson 22: A Model Climax & Notes on Denouement
Assignment 7
Week 7 Discussion
Week 8: Writing the Ending
Lesson 23: Bringing It All Together Without Tying It up Too Neatly
Lesson 24: VIDEO How to End Your Novel (5:56)
Week 8 Assignment
Week 8 Discussion
Further Reading on Endings
Week 9: Revising for Publication
Lesson 25: The Art of Revision
Lesson 26: VIDEO: Inside the Revision Process (19:03)
Lesson 27: AUDIO: First Draft vs. Final Draft (AUDIO)
Lesson 28: Independent or Traditional Publishing: Which is right for you? (14:34)
Revision Assignment
Week 9 Discussion
Your thoughts, Certificate of Completion, and Next Steps
Before You Go
Your Certificate of Completion, and Next Steps
Course Downloads & Further Reading
Revision Checklist
Workbook: The Art of Plot
Recommended Reading - Articles & Essays
Lesson 9: VIDEO: Creating Suspense in Literary and Genre Fiction
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