Effective fiction keeps the reader immersed in the world of the story and this is achieved by the writer’s command of a variety of fictional techniques and tools. We will look at a selection of these with a view to seeing how a writer uses them to sustain a story. Our topics will be explored largely through the students’ own writing, produced between classes and discussed in a group setting during the classes.
One of the main questions for a writer is how to decide on the point of view in their story. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of various viewpoints. We will also examine dialogue: how can we make it effective and what distinguishes it from everyday speech? Relatedly, we will explore the nature and effects of strong characterisation.
We will also learn about chapter division and how to use it effectively, as well as ways of generating rhythm in our work, and improving its texture. Discussion of all of these elements will provide an enhanced understanding of our power, as writers, to draw readers into our fictional worlds.
Learning outcomes
- Learning how to keep a reader immersed in the world of a story;
- A personal understanding of what tools are available to the writer to create effective fiction;
- Confidence in one’s own writing skills and in critiquing one’s own work and that of others.
