A dark journey into the unknown: The process of writing a novel

Instructor: James Naremore

To borrow an analogy from Peter Turchi, writing a novel is a lot like taking a long journey of discovery into an unknown country. It takes time, it can be dull then suddenly fraught with peril, and it requires skill and planning.

This class is less about “what” to write (though we’ll touch on aspects of that “what”) and more about “how” to write. We will cover topics ranging from inspiration and idea generation, to structure and plotting, to practical tools like outlining and note taking and writing with openness and awareness, to meta-issues like writer’s block and what to do when your back (and backside) starts to hurt from sitting and typing, and finding and using time effectively.

Hopefully this class will help you acquire or create the tools you need to be able to effectively and comfortably navigate to your own undiscovered country.

Open to writers at all levels, whether you are working on a book, just have an idea, or are only beginning to explore the notion.