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A Workshop on Plot in Fiction
Plot has often been treated as an afterthought in MFA programs, as if it were beneath the attention of a “literary” writer. But no matter how beautiful a writer’s language may be, their work is unlikely to be read unless it also has a compelling plot that keeps the reader turning the pages.
How can writers create fiction with a driving narrative, the right amount of tension, and a sequence of events that propel the story forward, without sacrificing attention to language or their characters’ depth and emotional lives?
In this workshop, participants will learn to write plot by focusing first on the difference between story and plot. The class will then examine the traditional three-act and five-act plot structures and discuss why these models are effective, as well as how writers can diverge from them to find a structure that fits their own style. Participants will learn how to create narrative drive through conflict stemming from their characters’ choices and circumstances, how to maintain tension by manipulating the sequence of events and altering narrative speed, and how to braid together their main plot with believable sub-plots to create a cohesive whole.
Through prompts and a few writing exercises, participants will then generate and/or explore the elements of plot in their own work. Everyone will leave with specific tools for how to create plot in fiction that is both suspenseful and reflective of their characters’ human struggles and emotional lives.
*Attendees’ manuscripts will not be reviewed in this workshop. This workshop will be generative (via exercises) and provide strategies for attendees to deploy on their work.
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online, using the video meeting platform Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, October 1, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, MWPA’s Hannah Perry will offer a test session on Zoom. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the test session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Marjan Kamali’s most recent novel, The Stationery Shop (Gallery/Simon & Schuster, 2019) was one of Newsweek’s 30 Best Summer Books, a Real Simple magazine Top Editor’s Pick, an Indie Next Pick, and an excerpt was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Her debut novel Together Tea (EccoBooks/HarperCollins, 2013) was a Massachusetts Book Award Finalist, an NPR WBUR Good Read, and a Target Emerging Author Selection. Marjan graduated from U.C. Berkeley and earned an MFA from NYU and an MBA from Columbia University. Her short stories appear in the anthologies Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been and Tremors, and her essays have been published in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Review of Books. Her novel Together Tea has been translated into Italian, German, Norwegian, Czech, and Slovak. Marjan was born in Turkey to Iranian parents and grew up in seven countries across five continents. She teaches writing at GrubStreet and lives with her husband and two children in the Boston area.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via PayPal. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Hannah Perry at hannah@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information. Please note that mail delivery to the MWPA office is currently experiencing extensive delays, so please email hannah@mainewriters.org first if you would like to register by mail.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one full scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Application Due on September 21 at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION