Writers often have a great idea for a novel but aren’t sure how to dive in. Or they have already begun but hit an early wall. No matter the type of novel, this class will increase students’ skills and confidence to jump in head first. Discussion will explore the following areas:

–Foundational pre-writing, getting a clearer sense of characters and their problems
–Roadmaps, whether they be detailed outlines or a handful of bullet points
–Crafting effective opening chapters
–Using craft elements to expand drafts: stakes, theme, and setting

This class is designed for students ready for their novels to crack open their shells, grow and fly to completion.

About the instructor:

Stacey Swann’s fiction has appeared in Epoch, Memorious, Versal, and other journals. A former Stegner Fellow, she teaches with Stanford University’s Online Writer’s Studio. She’s at work on Olympus, TX, a novel-in-progress she is whittling down from Texas-sized to a more modest Montana or New Mexico size.