Fiction writing (advanced)

Course details

The Advanced Fiction workshop aims to help writers who already have a grasp of the basics of writing fiction further perfect and develop their craft.

Aspects of fiction writing such as plot, dialogue, character, setting and pace will be featured, along with more advanced topics such as semiotics, allegory and symbolism in a full-day 6.5-hour workshop. These aspects of writing fiction will be explored via collaborative and solo exercises in the workshop.

The editing process, an invaluable skill often overlooked by new writers, will also be explored in this workshop, along with an brief explanation and Q&A session about the submission process in the agent/publisher system. Materials provided include the workshop manual and writing materials.

Aims

• Reduce participants’ anxiety about writing and build their confidence, using elements from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Build on the skills needed to write fiction, including plot, character, setting, voice, perspective and dialogue
• Outline essential information of the agent/ publisher submission process and writers’ other options in the rapidly changing international publishing scene
• Discuss and explore concepts such as allegory, semiotics and symbolism and how they can be used
• Use collaborative learning and microfiction exercises to improve the participants’ skills and understanding of the various aspects of writing