Beyond Conflict: Sources of Narrative Drive in Fiction

What makes certain fiction so gripping? What gives it the power to keep a reader up at night? In this session, using brief passages from great novels and stories as models, we’ll go beyond basic understandings of dramatic conflict to look into some of the less obvious aspects of page-turning fiction, such as micro-tension and shadow description. We’ll make distinctions between mystery, suspense, and dramatic irony, and discuss strategies for point of view and the release of information to keep the pages turning.

A combination of discussion and brief, dynamic writing exercises will give fiction writers a better grasp on the tools they need to make their stories harder to put down, and therefore more likely to be published and widely read.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.