By the end of this course, you’ll be able to identify what makes a story feel alive, distinguish a story from an anecdote, and use the “4 C’s” of storytelling—character, conflict, context, and craft—to develop your own fiction. Renowned urban fantasy writer Daniel José Older takes you on an energetic, bite-sized dive into the fundamentals of narrative storytelling.

Across three parts, you’ll explore each of the 4 C’s, see how they work together through a close look at Older’s short story Salsa Nocturna, and use practical questions and tools to shape your own story. You’ll learn to think critically about your characters, build meaningful conflict, understand how context creates depth, and make intentional craft choices. This course is for aspiring and established creative writers, as well as anyone who wants a deeper understanding of what makes a great story so captivating. No formal writing background is required; to be successful, you simply need an interest in fiction and a willingness to develop your ideas. You’ll leave with a tried-and-true framework for writing a fictional short story—and the inspiration to put pen to paper.