Courses

Have you ever launched a novel or memoir with energy and excitement, only to find that your narrative ran out of gas and started to sputter halfway through the book (if not sooner)? Subplots are the key to maintaining urgency in the middle of any novel or memoir, and yet many writers barely give subplots a second thought, or they write with no real understanding of how to handle subplot, fingers crossed, just hoping for the best as they stumble forward. This course will show you how subplots can be consciously designed to support the mainline story so that it never lags or drags, keeping the reader (and you!) energized to the end of the book.

We will begin by discussing what subplots are (and are not), why you need them, and how to build and masterfully integrate them into your own writing to avoid “the mushy middle” that plagues so many aspiring authors. Through weekly lectures, readings, and writing assignments, students will implement a set of proven tools for subplot development, constructing this essential element to strengthen their novels or memoirs. We will also cover the basics of synopsis writing, pacing fundamentals, and narrative drive, providing students with the juice to power their narrative engines and write with confidence to the end of their story.