The Writing Craft
Stuart Horwitz
Master entertainer, speaker at our October 2022 meeting, upcoming workshop leader, and savvy writing teacher Stuart Horwitz has compiled a library of tips, suggestions, and wisdom available to you for free on his website.
Check out his five rules of writing flashbacks and his entire presentation on Book Architecture — in particular his seminal book, Book Architecture: How to Plot and Outline Without Using a Formula.
And finally, check out his insightful and thoughtful three-video series, “The Book Architecture Experience.”
Margaret Atwood's Master Class
A great writer teaches a master class. Learn how the author of The Handmaid’s Tale crafts prose and hooks readers with her approach to storytelling.
Plotting Methods
Here are a few methods and strategies for laying out your plot:
The Snowflake Method, beginning with a theme and, over time, developing and adding complexity.
The Hero’s Journey, based on the classic writings of scholar Joseph Campbell.
Romancing the Beat, a popular romance plot structure based on the book by Gwen Hayes.
12 Chapter Mystery, the classic formula for writing scintillating mystery novels.
Story Circle, a plot theory by Dan Harmon, creator of “Community” & “Rick and Morty.”
Writing with Sensitivity
A blog by Melissa Haun, “How to Make Your Writing More Sensitive – and Why It Matters,” helps to understand how writers can establish a safe and inclusive environment for communication. When writers are mindful of readers’ emotions and experiences, they create greater trust and empathy. In turn, this can encourage readers to engage more deeply with the content and feel comfortable sharing their own thoughts and feelings.