Fiction Writing 101

Stories are powerful things. They have the ability to enlighten people, enthrall them, convict, encourage, and move at the deepest levels of the soul. And the author who writes the story possesses a great amount of power. And a great amount of responsibility. We-authors-have the power to manipulate a reader's emotions, to roll them around in our hands as easily as a potter molds a lump of wet clay. This home study course was designed to teach the basics to beginner fiction writers. Sections include lessons on: Character: How to create characters readers care about; Protagonists, Antagonists, Secondary. Characters, "Wise Old Sage," Other Characters. Dialogue: How to create realistic dialogue; dos and don'ts of dialogue writing. Description: Using similes & metaphors; describing a scene so it comes alive for the reader. Plot: Story arc; elements of plot; conflict. Pacing: How to keep the story moving; cliffhangers. Point-of-View and Tense: 1st person, 3rd person, past tense, present tense; POV dos and donts. Writing assignments and additional reading are included with each lesson. Though anyone can take the course, it was created with the homeschooled 7th-12th grader in mind. This course was designed to equal 1/2 credit for high school but can be enhanced to equal a full credit.