Class Description
***This class will be hosted remotely! You'll receive an email from your instructor about 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin with a Zoom link. There is no need to download or sign up for Zoom in advance!***
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Class Description:
Have you attempted a draft of a novel but lost momentum midway through? Do you love coming up with fictional characters and worlds but get stuck figuring out where your story is going? This is the class for you! We’ll spend five days diving deep into an essential craft topic for novelists of every genre: PLOT. We’ll unlock some of the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding plot (hint: it’s not as complicated as it seems) and explore a variety of plotting techniques, from the more traditional (e.g., hero’s journey, three attempts, beat sheet) to the more avant-garde and adventurous. You will apply a array of prompts and plot techniques to your own developing novel to discover its true engine and the plot shape that best suits the story you aim to tell. Come prepared to get messy—to test out ideas, talk through challenges, explode old plans, and start again.
This class is intended for writers who have a novel draft in progress, a full draft in need of serious revision, or an idea for a novel that needs more direction. All genres (realistic, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, historical, etc) are welcome! For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY.
Takeaway:
By the end of the class, you’ll have a clear sense of your story’s internal engine, a draft of a few pivotal scenes, and a new working outline or story map to guide you through the end of a draft.
Our NEW Class Format:
Based on student suggestions and to offer writers a sustainable learning experience, this summer’s YAWP weeklongs provide a balance of craft sessions and exercises with plenty of optional components so that teens can take screen breaks as needed.
Each morning session will feature a craft talk or group exercise with your designated instructor. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you’ll have optional and lowkey meetings that could consist of:
- Q&A chat with your writing instructor
- Group writing with music
- Reading party
- Movie viewing followed by a chat about craft
- Writing games
- Open mic/sharing
Students are encouraged to self-advocate, opting out if they are fatigued or diving in if they want more creative activity. Either way, instructors will always be available to answer questions via email and/or Zoom chat!
Registration Instructions:
- If the student is under 18, parents/guardians must complete this permission form online. You only need to fill this form out ONE TIME, NOT for every class. If you cannot remember whether you have already filled it out, please email [email protected] and we will check for you! If you do not complete this form, your registrations could be voided and the cancellation policy will apply.
- If the student is 18, simply let us know by emailing [email protected].
- If you are registering on behalf of a student, add their email in the “For a Friend or Child?” field on the right-hand side of the screen at check out. This will send them a direct link and reminder to create their own profile with GrubStreet.
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***If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected]. We’re looking forward to writing with you this summer!***
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 detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.