DEREK GREEN

The Art and Craft of Writing Dramatic Fiction

This workshop is designed for writers of all levels who are interested in demystifying the process of writing and publishing dramatic fiction.  To do this, we approach the creation and publication of a short story, a collection of stories or a novel as a series of manageable steps—a process—that any writer can master.  

We begin with a lively series of questions—and surprising answers—about the nature of stories: What is fiction?  What are the basic building blocks of all stories? What are the five features every story shares?  What are the key differences between short stories and novels? Answering these and similar questions allows attendees to create a working definition of what stories are, and to strip the mystery away from the process of writing them. 

We put this information into action in the second and third hour of the workshop.  By completing a series of fun and simple exercises, writers learn how to apply dramatic principles and story logic to find ideas and to turn them into compelling stories of any length—from flash fiction to epic novels. 

The first half of the final hour is dedicated to the issue of publishing fiction in the modern world.  Attendees will learn practical tips for finding places to publish; discover how to “automate” the submission process;  discover how to use rejection to their benefit; and learn about the brave new world of electronic publishing and independent presses. 

We bring everything together in the final half hour by covering the rarely-discussed issue of time management and goal-setting for creative writers.  Attendees learn techniques writers use to set and achieve creative goals; how to turn a small amount of writing done consistently over time into a  big completed project; and how to juggle the very different demands of creating and publishing their stories.  Students will then complete a goal-setting exercise of their own. 

By the end of the workshop, students will not only have a clearer understanding of how to create powerful stories—they will also be armed with a specific plan for their writing future.  If you’re looking for a no-nonsense approach to writing fiction of any length and type—from literary short shorts to commercial category novels—this workshop is for you. 

For informaiton on taking this workshop, please visit the CONTACT page on this site.