You know how sometimes you pick up a novel thinking you'll skim the first page, and suddenly you realize you've read twenty pages and must, must, must finish the book? In this class, we'll explore how writers make that magic happen.
For our first class, we'll read and critique the beginnings of three published novels, exploring what makes them work. We'll discuss character development, world building, and the clever ways each work's plot arc is seeded in the book's beginning.
For our remaining classes, we'll workshop our own beginnings, two per class. We'll have fun analyzing own world building and character development, and we'll gain clarity on the plot points we've set in motion.
This class is suitable for all levels, and you'll get the most out of it if you have at least half, or approximately 45k words, of your novel already written. Supposedly Joyce Carol Oates said, “The first sentence can't be written until the final sentence is written," though I've yet to find the source of this quote. It's more or less true anyways.
Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout for 20% off through December 8!
Ginger Eager's debut novel, The Nature of Remains (New Issues), won the AWP Prize for the Novel, was listed as a 2020 Books All Georgians Should Read, and won the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Award. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, and has recently gotten into kayaking. Her work in progress is a novel about climate grief and artificial intelligence.
"Ginger is such a powerhouse instructor. She was unbelievably generous with her knowledge and expertise and was able to teach and guide us in a way that truly landed. The way I look at writing is forever changed. She set such a great tone for us to passionately read each other's work and give and receive feedback in an environment that was constructive and safe. I would jump at the opportunity to workshop with Ginger again. These four weeks were some of the most valuable days of my entire writing career!"
"Encouraging. Positive. Hopeful. Insightful. Tremendous!"
