Author Elizabeth Poliner guides four weekly sessions focused on a character-driven approach to novel writing—one that allows novels to develop organically, moving from character into plot and structure.
Where do ideas for fictional characters come from? How do we move from an understanding of character into the development of story and plot? How do we integrate setting into the development of story, too? In addition to answering these questions, the series focuses on structure, narration, theme, research, and the ever-essential role of revision.
Poliner is the author of the novel As Close to Us as Breathing, winner of the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize in Fiction, finalist for the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award in Fiction and the Ribalow Prize, and an Amazon Best Book of 2016.
March 8 Character
Why start with character? Where do we get ideas for fictional characters? Developing character sketches as a starting point. Moving from character into story.
March 15 Setting
Further exploration of moving from character into story. Integrating setting into story. Exploring the possibility that character + setting = story.
March 22 Narration and Point of View
How to tell the story. Where to begin when you’re ready to write. The emergence of structure.
March 29 Research
Considering research as a helpful, often-necessary tool and part of the creative process. Some thoughts on theme. Approaches to revision.
4 sessions
General Information
