A synopsis shouldn't feel scary, but it's also important to take your time and get it right. While some editors and literary agents won't care about getting one . . . there are plenty who do, and the last thing you want is to try to bang out a quick synopsis when you feel the […]
The usual advice about writing dialogue sets a pretty high bar: advance the plot, capture your characters\' voices and reveal something about them, don\'t dump in exposition, and watch out for -ly words. But how do you do all that between two quotation marks? This class will explore the ins and outs of effective dialogue. […]
A good editor doesn’t just check for typos and run-on sentences. They help you see your work in a whole new way—bringing out your writerly strengths and assisting you in giving life to the best version of the story inside you. Every writer is capable of learning the tools that good editors use to do […]
In this class, participants will receive with tips and techniques for making fiction feel real to readers. We’ll cover how to transform fiction from flat words on the page into a truly engrossing and realistic read. The real trick is to make the reader the co-creator of the fictional dream. With plenty of examples and […]
Love to tell (write) a good story? If so, whether fiction or nonfiction, you have a skillset that\'s constantly in demand. Just as readers are still devouring good books, businesses are seeking masters to help them share their mission and engage with clients or customers in authentic ways. Simply put, story matters; and as a […]
The Naked Truth is a seminar to help those writing memoir to write without fear or shame (yes that can be done) and to develop the unique vocabulary and language to tell their story. Memoir that is compelling is defined by a story told with bravery and authenticity and a voice that captures and honors […]
This class will address the making of human characters in fiction. Characters--believable, authentic, sympathetic--are the lifeblood of story. Who wants to read or keep reading a novel if we don\'t care about the fellow human beings inhabiting its setting and guiding its plot? We\'ll look at several examples of great characters and try out some […]
What keeps a finished manuscript from being accepted for publication, or from catching a judge\'s eye or attention, or from being read all the way to the end? How do you know when your manuscript is truly done? From flat plots to false dialogue and under-researched scenes, we will discuss the most common mistakes that […]
Alma will help define what conflict is, describe the four different types of conflict and how to layer them in your novel and show you how to analyze your own writing. She will provide advice on how to create more suspense and tension that can be applied to all kinds of writing, not just mysteries […]
See Richmond CultureWorks for other literary events in the area.