I’m teaching
another one of my “Strong Beginnings” classes on Saturday, July 28 from 10:00
am to 3:00 pm at Book Passage Corte Madera! This class is geared toward all
levels of writers who are working on novels. Memoir and creative non-fiction
writers will also find it helpful.
Making a good impression in the first five pages is crucial for the
success of your novel, whether you want to keep a reader reading or are hoping
to get an agent to offer representation. Common mistakes include starting the
story in the wrong place, giving too much backstory or using an action scene
that serves no purpose. In this class, we do what’s called a close reading of
first chapters of a variety of successful published books. We analyze all the
elements (pacing, characterization, style, tone, voice, structure, etc.) to
understand what grabs a reader. Then we take a look at the first five pages of
students' novels to see what works and what needs improvement.
Over
the years,
students have responded quite positively to this class, citing its
practicality
and usefulness as opposed to other creative writing classes that
emphasize more
abstract concepts that can’t always be applied to a student’s specific
work. And the things you learn in this class can also help you with
revising your entire novel.
Looking forward
to seeing you there! You can sign up here:
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