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Fundamentals of Fiction Writing: Master the Short Story (On-Demand)
Introduction
Welcome to Fundamentals of Fiction Writing!
Let's get started...
Great Short Stories to Read and Study
Additional Readings for Writers
Coming up with story ideas (video) (7:04)
A Note on Copyright
General Discussion Forum (2026)
Module 1: Characterization
3 Methods of Character Revelation (video) (8:45)
Characterization Overview (video) (7:28)
You Have to Want Something: Protagonist & Desire
Round vs. Flat Characters
How to Name Your Characters
Characterization Quick Tips
MODULE 1 READING - Signs and Symbols
How to Write About Real People in Fiction (8:08)
Background Work -- Optional: The Character Dossier
Assignment (Characterization): Crisis
Discussion: Characterization
Module 2 - Point of View
The Four Major Points of View (video) (8:56)
Finding Perspective - An Overview of Point of View
Point of View In-Depth
How to Handle Multiple Points of View (Video) (18:12)
Module 2 Reading: The Train
Assignment 3 (Point of View): A Terrible Deed
Assignment 4 (Point of View): Unforgettable
Quiz 2 - Point of View
Module 3 - Structure
An Intuitive Approach to Story Movement (Video) (10:51)
Secrets of Story Structure (video) (7:27)
The Shape of the Story
Structure from A to E
Elements of an Ending
Alternative and Experimental Short Story Structures
Module 3 Reading: The School
Assignment 5 (Structure): Action and beyond
Assignment 6 (Structure): A Sense of an Ending
Assignment: Playing with Alternative Structures
Quiz 3
Module 4 - Setting and Description
How to Ground Your Story (Video) (9:29)
Where Everything Happens
Engaging the Senses: Description
How to Describe Characters and Places: Notes on Minimalism and Meaning
Module 4 Reading
Further Reading - Setting
Assignment 7 (Setting): Wanderings
Assignment 8 (Setting and Description): Visible, Visual, & Real
Optional Exercise (Description): Getting Past Abstraction
Module 5 - Plot
Pacing, Plot, Scene, & Summary (Video) (3:30)
Plotting the Story (Podcast)
Pacing & Plot
Scene vs. Summary
The Central Question
Conflict
Module 5 Reading
Assignment 9 (Plot): Scene
Assignment 10 (Plot): Summary
Assignment 11 (Plot): Conflict
QUIZ 5
Module 6 - Dialogue
Functions of Dialogue & Tips for Effective Dialogue (Video) (7:45)
Dialogue in Depth: Getting Your Characters to Talk
Tips for Writing Effective Dialogue
Module 6 Reading
Assignment 12 (Dialogue): Saying What You Mean (or not)
Assignment 13 (Dialogue): The Unspoken Conflict
QUIZ 6
Module 7 - Voice, Theme, & Research
Human Nature, The Moral Argument, & Other Thoughts on Theme
The Sound in Your Head: On Developing Your Voice
Developing Voice (Video) (11:00)
Research and the Writing Life
Three Kinds of Research (Video) (5:26)
Week 7 Reading
Assignment 14
Assignment 15: Theme
Module 8: Revise and Publish
How and When to Revise Your Story
Revision Checklist
First Draft vs. Final Draft (podcast)
Submitting to Literary Journals (Video) (12:22)
Submitting to Literary Journals (worksheet)
Assignment 15
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Onward
How to Describe Characters and Places: Notes on Minimalism and Meaning
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