Creative Writing Series—The Plot Thickens

This class will help students:
1. Understand what makes a good fictional story.
2. Understand the roles of the beginning, middle and end.
3. Understand causality.
4. Understand external and internal obstacles.
5. Create a plot plan for a fictional short story.
6. Engage their creativity and imaginations.
7. Experience courage and vulnerability if they choose to share their writing with the class.
8. Receive specific, positive, verbal feedback on their writing (if they share).
9. Understand how to be part of a supportive writing community by listening respectfully as classmates share writing and providing positive, specific, verbal feedback.

Plot is a critical part of creating any fictional story, and I've taught this material many times in person. Students are excited to know this information because it makes their stories so much stronger. 

Personally, I work with this material every day. After receiving my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, my plotting skills were still underdeveloped. Because of that, I've read scores of books on plot and have taken several workshops aimed at improving my plotting skills. One of my favorite things about writing is that we can always learn and improve. 

Students will have the opportunity to share aspects of their plot plans with the class. If they do so, they will receive specific, positive feedback from the teacher and classmates. 

55 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.