Main Points
- A good story is about interesting interactions between 1) Plot 2) Character and 3) Setting.
- Conflict is the lifeblood of those interactions.
- Figure out ways to put your character in conflict with your setting, your plot in conflict with the aspirations of your character, your plot in conflict with your setting, etc.
- Plunge your character into the center of that conflict. Make them active participants.
- A great way to produce good stories is to look at books you really, really loved and boil them down to their essence that most hooked you.
Next up: Plots by outlining
Just wanted to say thanks for putting these online. I live in Atlanta and graduated from college in 2009, and this is so awesome for me to be able to virtually sit in on a creative writing class from an author I admire. Please keep it up!
Just wanted to express my gratitude for all of this. A friend of mine pointed me towards this when he found out I was finally putting forth an effort to write a novel and have found everything covered so far fascinating. I desperately hope all the lectures are posted, because not only am I finding the information invaluable, I have just genuinely enjoyed the topics.
Thank you so very much.
I have been working on several projects while working full time and am really appreciative for this class taught by one of my favorite authors. It has really given me some juice to keep on slogging! Thanks
dis is sik nice hat m8
I’m 14 and in my second year of high school and I am an aspiring author, but I have often had problems with finding ideas that interest me long enough to write a novel and having next to no motivation to write daily as I should be. so having access to university lectures and other resources that i wouldn’t normally be able to touch for a couple of years is a great help.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for posting these videos. They are extremely helpful! Thank you.
Iulian
I’ve looked through a lot of sites and writing tips, including the Snowflake Method of Randy Ingermanson, but I had recently read the first book of the ‘Mistborn’ series and I had loved it. I had hoped that maybe he would have clues or tips that would help me; it did. His examples are good and his way of explaining is blunt and to the point. He points out the rookie mistakes that had stopped me from writing, giving a system to work with easily but effectively.
I love reading and writing, but always thought that my skill in writing stories was sorely lacking, but this has given me a very much needed boost of self-confidence that made me passionate again about writing. I would show these lectures to aspiring writers right away, just to bring them on the right path.
Simply loved it.