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Wesleyan University

Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot

This course is part of Creative Writing Specialization

Brando Skyhorse

Instructor: Brando Skyhorse

307,231 already enrolled

Included withCoursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(4,839 reviews)

5 hours to complete
3 weeks at 1 hour a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
96%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7

(4,839 reviews)

5 hours to complete
3 weeks at 1 hour a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
96%
Most learners liked this course

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Taught in English

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This course is part of the Creative Writing Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 4 modules in this course

In this module, we'll learn essentials about plot definitions and mechanics. What is plot? How does plot shape a narrative? What makes a strong plot? How is plot different from a story? We'll also discuss how plot works in actual books you're probably familiar with, such as the Harry Potter series, how character and action equals plot, and the five key questions you should ask yourself when creating a dynamic character.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 peer review

In this module we're going to learn what story structure is and how by understanding structure you can learn how to sequence the events in your plot to help maximize your own storytelling abilities.We'll talk about Freytag's pyramid, the five act structure, how that structure can be found in works of classic literature, and have a conversation about how structure and outlines can help organize the stories you want to tell.

What's included

3 videos1 peer review

Scenes are the building blocks of storytelling. But what is a scene? And how does a scene move plot forward? In this module we'll learn about the difference between telling and showing, the five key elements each scene should have, offer some examples of effective scenes, and have a conversation about how setting and description can make a scene come alive.

What's included

3 videos1 peer review

This modules deals with the specifics of editing and revising your work. This process of revision starts with the first draft (which will now become your second draft) and continues until the manuscript’s ready to send to an agent. Included here are a twenty-one point checklist on what to do once you have a completed first draft, and conversations about creating characters with strong motivations, and how to define language that gets rewritten vs language that gets cut.

What's included

4 videos1 peer review

Instructor

Instructor ratings
4.8 (1,267 ratings)
Brando Skyhorse
Wesleyan University
2 Courses309,565 learners

Offered by

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