Free Creative Writing Course

​If you're looking for a free creative writing course, check out my online storytelling class. Learn how to turn your idea for a book into a full-length novel with comprehensive video lessons and a blueprint document.

What is a creative writing class?

A creative writing class is one that teaches fiction, narrative non-fiction, or poetry. My course is primarily focused on fiction, though many of the principles taught would apply to narrative non-fiction too. For more on what distinguishes these two types of writing, check out my post on narrative writing.

My class doesn't address poetry, which varies quite a bit from the other two forms. However, if you're looking for a course on that subject, plenty exist.

I teach the topics of character development, story plot, story theme, and emotional impact...

What is character development?

​Character development is the technique of humanizing a fictional character. The more human a character feels, the more effective the character development. The process doesn't call for one type of humanity over any other. You may develop a character who's a righteous freedom fighter and another who's a serial killer. As long as they both feel human, you've done well as a writer.

For more on character development, check out these video clips from my writing class...    

How to write a protagonist

How to write an antagonist

What is the plot of a story?

​The plot of a story is the sequence of events its characters are involved in. The plot should build in a dramatic way toward the answer to this question: will the main character - ie, protagonist - achieve their central goal?

This goal should be set fairly early in the story, after an event - known as the inciting incident - disturbs the hero's world and forces them to want something they lack.

For instance, in a thriller story, the inciting incident could be a bank robbery that results in the death of a civilian. The crime causes the protagonist - an FBI agent - to want something: to catch the robber.

​The story would then follow the FBI agent as he pursued the antagonist criminal through a series of obstacles. It would build to a final showdown between the hero and villain, when the audience finally gets to know if the robber is caught or escapes.

​For more on story plot, watch this video clip from my writing course...

How to write a story plot

What is the theme of a story?

​The theme of a story is the commentary about the world the story is making. For instance, in the story discussed above - about an FBI agent pursuing a murderous criminal - if the events end in justice, ie the criminal getting caught, the story would be making a different statement about society than if it ended in injustice, ie the criminal getting away.

​In the justice variation, the theme might be something like, "The world may be dark at times, but ultimately justice is served." In the injustice variation, the theme might be something like, "Despite the efforts of good people, some violent ones never pay for their crimes."   

​​For more on story theme, watch this video clip from my writing course...

How to write a story theme

What is emotional impact in storytelling?

Emotional impact in storytelling is how frequently and strongly a story makes its audience feel emotion.

As a writer, you need to create an emotional connection between your audience and characters with good characterization. If your characters feel like real humans, the humans in the audience will relate to them. Once you accomplish this, when your characters confront obstacles and go through ups and downs, your audience will have an emotional reaction, essentially going on the ride with them.

This emotional ride is what a typical audience member is signing up for when they sit down to read a novel or watch a film. If you ask someone what their favorite book or movie is, the answer you get tends to be based on the person's emotional experience.  

​​For more on emotional impact in storytelling, watch this video clip from my writing course... 

The importance of emotional impact in storytelling

Take the creative writing course

​Ready to begin your journey to finishing your first book? Take my free creative writing course.