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Fiction Writing

Develop characters, plot, and other elements to create a great story

Fiction Writing
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TAKE THIS COURSE, ATTEND A SEMINAR FOR FREE!
Click here if you live in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, or Washington, D.C..

If you live somewhere else, we've got a free video for you! Click here for details.

WHEN 6 weeks, October 21 - December 2
Chats Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30 pm ET

WHERE Online. Click here for more information.

LEVEL Intro

PRICE
$425 ($400 for )
more info

Course Details

You want to write fiction. Whether you're trying your hand at a short story, novella, novel, or screenplay, this course will show you how to build on what you have, starting with character development, then studying the principals of narrative structure as they relate to character motive. By focusing your imagination in specific directions and rediscovering your innate knowledge of how stories work, you will be able to turn your ideas into a substantial piece of fiction, with all the right peaks and troughs.

The fundamentals of fiction (character, plot, setting, theme, viewpoint, and dialogue) will be explored through a series of lectures and assignments. Your work will be analyzed every week on the discussion board. You will also be encouraged to keep a daily journal so as to develop your powers of observation and a repository of language and ideas.

In this class, you will learn:

  • The craft behind fiction writing
  • How to build a strong cast of characters
  • The role of the Hero's Journey in works of fiction
  • How to organize the building blocks of your story
  • How to develop a theme

By the end of class, you will have:
Developed characters and a plot structure sufficient to complete a substantial piece of fiction.

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest which includes a brief work history.

The online classroom has several interactive components:
  • Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
  • Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
  • Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
  • Technical support is available from mediabistro.com staff.

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Instructor Bio

Andrew Craft's Courses

Fiction Writing – (Class starts October 21)
From Essay to Memoir – (Class starts January 12)
From Essay to Memoir – New York (Class starts October 16)

Andrew Craft
Andrew Craft has taught personal memoir writing at the 92nd St Y and the Makor Steinhardt Center. He also created a class designed to access the creative writer's voice. He recently completed ghostwriting a memoir about to be sold to a major publisher. He has run three writer's groups, the members of which are all writing personal memoirs of various length -- some full length autobiographies, some shorter essay pieces.

He has taught screenwriting at beginners, intermediate, advanced, and master class levels at NYU for seven years. Andrew is a busy screenwriting consultant and script doctor and has two films currently in development. He also teaches creative fiction and nonfiction. Andrew is an Englishman who has lived in New York for eighteen years.

Testimonials


Andrew provides great context and content, engages each attendee individually and personally, and is a highly entertaining and informative teacher. -- Beth Amorosi

"Andrew is insightful and experienced -- he immediately understands what each writer is trying to capture in their essay and offers spot-on advice on how to take that story to the next level!" -- Jessica Dang

"When it comes to working with a wide range of story ideas in the classroom, Andrew is a master craftsman." -- Steve Govoni, president, Connecticut Center for Patient Safety

"Andrew is at the top of his game. He is a talented, lively, well-informed teacher who brings perspicacity and humor to his teaching. I'm already on my way to writing my story thanks to him." -- Susan Schwartzman, Susan Schwartzman Public Relations

"Andrew not only knows his stuff, but he knows how to teach it." -- Nelly Sidoti
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