Novel Revision Series: Killer Openings - Remote!

Class Description

A compelling, carefully crafted opening is absolutely critical for any successful novel. It’s what editors and agents, not to mention average readers, will use to decide whether or not to read on. In this text-oriented seminar, we’ll break down the opening of numerous great classic and contemporary and novels in order to arrive at a more precise and nuanced understanding of how openings work, what they must achieve, and various methods that may be used to “hook” readers, including a few that you may not have considered. In a series of brief writing exercises, we’ll have a chance to apply what we’ve learned to our own works in progress. Students are asked to bring in the first several pages of a novel they admire, and, optionally, the first several pages of their own novel drafts to use in revision exercises.

Part of GrubStreet's Novel Revision Series, led by Tim Weed and designed for those who have either finished or are nearing completion of a novel draft. Take every class in the series or simply choose the craft topics that are relevant to the revision challenges you face with your novel in progress. Classes include:

• Novel Revision Series: Dialogue and the Scene
• Novel Revision Series: Minor and Supporting Characters
• Novel Revision Series: Killer Openings
• Novel Revision Series: Fictional Love Stories
• Novel Revision Series: Point of View and Voice
• Novel Revision Series: Descriptive Writing and Image Systems
• Novel Revision Series: Interiority, Backstory, and Flashback

This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! 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 via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.

For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:

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.