Discover how to plot a story, from its beginnings through to redrafting and its end, with tutor Ian Nettleton. The focus is on science fiction storytelling: how to craft a scene and use dialogue and subtext to bring your ideas to life, packed full of examples from sci-fi film and literature.
You'll find out:
- The relationship between plot and character
- What forms a classic story structure
- How to write an impactful opening
- How to ratchet up the drama
- The Ten Commandments of Writing
- How point of view affects your plot
- How dialogue and subtext can add depth to your plot
- The importance of rewriting
- How to end your story
How long does it take?
As a self-paced course it's up to you how quickly you progress through the material. If you take a break from Netflix you could binge it in a week, or spread it out over a longer period.
How does it work?
Our courses can be accessed on your desktop Mac or PC , laptop, tablet or mobile. All you need is a web browser. You don't need to install any additional software.
When does it start?
Right now! This is a self-paced online course - you decide when you start and can go through it at any speed. You have unlimited access to the course so can return for a refresher at any time.
Introducing Ian Nettleton
Ian Nettleton is from the north of England but he has lived in Norwich for two decades. His novelette, Falling Star, was published in a science fiction anthology, Angles, in 2008 and his novel, The Last Migration, was runner-up in the inaugural Bath Novel Award 2014 and runner-up in the inaugural Bridport Prize Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award 2014. He is represented by Sue Armstrong of the Conville and Walsh literary agency.
Ian has a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of East Anglia and teaches creative writing at the Open University (undergraduate and MA), the National Centre for Writing and the University of East Anglia. He is currently editing a literary thriller set in Queensland, Australia, called Out of Nowhere.
Also available in this series
The Writing Science Fiction series is also available in a discounted bundle. Save £25 on buying separately!
Course overview
- Don't leave the house in your underwear (1:06)
- The Ten Commandments of Writing
- Exercise #5: What makes a good novel?
- Mr Ten Per Cent
- Interlude: Point of View Revisited
- Being in control of your material – point of view continued
- Dialogue - What are you talking about?
- More on subtext and dialogue
- Exercise #6: Rewrite
- Endings
- Examples of endings
- Frequent Out of this World Questions
- And in the end (0:42)
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