You’re clear on the concept but how to put it all together?

Purpose:  To demonstrate the interdependence of story elements.

We’re all aware of the various elements constituting that elusive concept called story structure.  Maybe we have a grasp of the individual components:  Characterization, motivation, conflict, high stakes, payoffs, consequences and the like.   

We may also be familiar with more esoteric concepts:  Character arc, storyline, reversals, sub-plots and plot points.

And, of course, we all understand such basic precepts as universality of theme and the three-act structure.  Or do we, really?

Toss in parallel plot lines, story arc, story intersection, back-story, foreshadowing and flashbacks, and things get a tad confusing.

But there’s good reason for confusion; it’s how creative writing is taught. Every element, concept, precept and “rule” is treated independently, isolated from the other components.  But this approach ignores an inescapable fact:  Every component is impacted by a change in any one.

Attend this workshop before you start rewriting your first draft.  Or even before you start your first draft.  It will save you much anguish, angst and midnight gnashing of teeth.  It will spare you the experience of finding yourself 300 pages into a book that has become your personal black hole.  Or, worse, completing a manuscript so anecdotal and episodic it’s impossible to fix.

A detailed synopsis or treatment (double spaced) is prerequisite to attendance - 30 days prior to the workshop.  

A critique and professional edit of a sample (25 pages) of your work is included in the tuition. 

The Writers' Retreat workshop

 

Zihuatanejo, México