08/25/2026
This 7 session course is taught by Dr. Brian Johnson. Cost is $100. Course is offered bi-weekly on Tuesdays from 9/15 to 12/8. Sessions are 9/15, 9/29, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24, 12/8. Seating is limited.
Register today at https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=5726742&stype=-8&sTG=106&sVT=123&sView=day&sLoc=0&sTrn=100000104
Have you pledged to write the next great American novel? Where do you start? This series of classes will help you on your way—from idea creation to keeping you main character the focal point of your story. In each class we will practice writing through creative exercises and get in the habit of sharing what we write in a judgment free zone.
Class 1: Finding Your Spark (Creative Ideas)
82% of people have said they’d like to write a novel (are you in this number?) This main idea for this class is finding your inspiration for a novel. Where do ideas come from? Your imagination can lead to very creative ideas for novels of any genre. We will explore various ideas to begin priming your pump for ideas. You’ll hopefully leave with new novel ideas that can spark a short story or even a full-length novel. Bring your pen or pencil along with your laptop and a notebook. We’ll practice together. We’ll practice creative writing and we’ll share our creations.
Class 2: What’s in a Name?
Your main character’s name is more important than you imagine. The main character (or protagonist) in a novel is the central figure who drives the plot forward, faces the core conflict, and undergoes the primary emotional or physical change. Your story could shape the newest Holden, Atticus, Draco, Katniss. In this class we will explore your character’s name to provide shape to the action of your novel.
Class 3: Genre and World-Building
In this class, we’ll explore genres and how they create expectations for readers. For instance, the horror genre is typically set in an isolated place; readers often expect a haunted mansion or backwoods cabin. Your readers will envision a home invasion or a mysterious stranger. Create worlds for your readers early in your book so they can situate themselves in your story. We’ll practice drafting several different establishing scenes by writing for different audiences. We’ll share our practice trials to encourage each other.
Class 4: Mastering Point-of-View (POV)
Point-of-view (POV) is all about through who’s eyes is your story being told—through who’s eyes is the action of your story being seen. IT’s very easy for new writers to fall into the trap of “head-hopping” or multiple points-of-view. This third class will concentrate our energies on maintaining one POV.
Class 5: Show, Don’t Tell
In Class 2, we emphasized reader engagement, or keeping your reader turning pages. In this class, we’ll address the how & why readers stay engaged. We’ll discuss strategies to make your audiences feel what you want them to. And, as always, there will be plenty of timed to practice.
Class 6: Finishing
You may have gotten to your expected genre’s word count, but is your story finished? How much do you need to keep writing? If you’ve been following narrative structure, you’ve written your exposition, rising action, and your climax, but have you allowed your action to fall leading to some resolution? We’ll explore the nine strategies that address the best ways to end your novel.
Class 7: Class Wrap Up
If you’ve been keeping up with your writing during this series, you should be at or nearing a 50,000 words goal—well on your way to publication. In this final class, we’ll discuss the finer points of writing a novel: self-publishing, traditional publishing, finding an editor.
