Course Details

You want to write a novel. So what's the big deal? Well, it's a huge task to take on by yourself. Self-imposed deadlines rarely work. And what's the actual writing process? Do you need an outline? What do you need to know about dialogue? How can you stop procrastinating?

Join 11 fellow writers in your pursuit of a completed first draft, under the guidance of a fiction writer who knows what he's doing. You'll learn the lost art of craft, the power of the outline, when to leave well enough alone, and how to turn your pages into a page-turner. If you stick with the pace of the class, you will finish the first draft of your novel in three months. If you need an edge to write that novel and make it saleable, this is the class for you.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• How to write a perfect outline, and when to change it
• How to create strong characters
• How to create a tone and make it consistent throughout your novel
• The secret behind perfect dialogue
• How to discover the theme of your novel, and how to manifest that theme through the piece

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
The first draft of a novel

Admission requirements:
To apply, you must submit a letter of interest, which includes a brief work history, and a fiction writing sample that should not exceed 2,000 words.

• Your instructor's lectures are posted once a week: you can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience. Supplemental material?readings, examples, or handouts?may also be available.
• Students post completed assignments on the course bulletin board, where the class gives feedback. Students ask questions, share resources, and support each other, creating a conversation that continues all week.
• A regular chat time allows your class to converse as a group via instant message. Transcripts are available when you can't attend, or if you want to review the discussion. 
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Instructor Bio

Ken Foster's Courses

Ken Foster is the editor of two anthologies, including Dog Culture. His collection of short stories, The Kind I'm Likely to Get, was a New York Times Notable Book. His work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney's, The Bark, The New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Believer. His latest book is a memoir, The Dogs Who Found Me. He has taught at The New School, Florida State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. He lives in New Orleans, with at least three dogs.

Testimonials

Ken is a gifted instructor and his talent for engaging students shines through the course structure. -- Kerry Rubinstein

"Taking Ken's class was the single best thing I have ever done to improve my writing. I felt my technical skills and my ability to select subject matter improve on a weekly basis." -- Dave Adamshick

"Ken is remarkably patient and very human, bringing out the best in his students, both as writers and critics. At the end of the class every one us wanted to continue studying with him." -- Linda Berris

"Ken is a thoughtful, engaged instructor who reads work with an eye towards not only quality but what you as a writer want to say. Assignments are well designed and structured and the feedback is always helpful and detailed." -- Joseph Childers

"Ken taught me how to analyze and edit my work so I can produce powerful, polished pieces." -- Joanna Kadish