I teach creative writing courses with both Capilano Univeristy Continuing Education (North Shore Campus) and the Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies' Writing and Publishing Program (Harbour Centre Campus). To register, click on the course titles below.
- Courses -
Dialogue is Not Conversation
Dialogue and conversation are not synonyms: conversation is when two or more people talk to each other; dialogue is a literary form that provides the illusion of transcribed speech to either establish character, advance the plot, or preferably, both. Through a combination of lecture, in-class exercises, and discussion, we'll explore what makes good dialogue, what makes bad dialogue, and how to tell the difference. We'll look at goal-oriented dialogue, subtext, action, differentiating your characters through the words they say, as well as the technical mechanics -- everything you'll need to get your characters saying the right thing.
Story Structure
Good stories don't just happen, they're built. Like a blueprint, you need a sound structure to build an effective emotional journey for your readers. Through a combination of lecture, in-class exercise, homework, workshop, and discussion, we'll explore both common and unconventional story shapes used in fiction. We'll also look at genre conventions, three-act structure, and the hero's journey to develop the tools you'll need to build emotionally satisfying stories again and again.
Required Text: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Websites for Writers
It's simple: if you're a creative writer with an eye to publication, you need a website. But why? And more importantly, how? Through a combination of lecture, demonstration, and in-class exercise, we'll not only discuss why you need a web presence, we'll actually build a simple website (and show you how to plan a more complex one). We'll look at the websites to emulate, the mistakes to avoid, and also explore how to market yourself in today's wired world and win an audience when the new rules say if you don't have a website, you don't exist.
Course website at WordPress.com.