Creative Writing Essentials: Writing Stand-Out Opening Scenes faq

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This 45-minute class, led by New York Times bestselling author Daniel Jose Older, provides an in-depth look at how to write a stand-out opening scene for any story. Through the use of first and last drafts of an opening scene, Older demonstrates how to craft a compelling introduction that will draw readers in. Learn the essential elements of creative writing and create an opening scene that will leave a lasting impression.

Course Feature Course Overview Pros & Cons Course Provider
Go to class

Course Feature

costCost:

Free Trial

providerProvider:

Skillshare

certificateCertificate:

No Information

languageLanguage:

English

start dateStart Date:

On-Demand

Course Overview

❗The content presented here is sourced directly from Skillshare platform. For comprehensive course details, including enrollment information, simply click on the 'Go to class' link on our website.

Updated in [February 21st, 2023]

Creative Writing Essentials: Writing Stand-Out Opening Scenes is a 45-minute class that teaches learners how to craft compelling opening scenes for their stories. Led by New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older, the class covers topics such as microcosms and macrocosms, character action, narrative movement, and driving questions. Learners will gain an understanding of how scene and stories are deeply connected, what verb choice reveals about characters, how the events in an opening scene set the stage and establish momentum, and how the opening scene plants the seeds of the story's larger question. Through exercises and analysis of the first and last drafts of the opening scene for Older's urban fantasy novel Shadowshaper, learners will gain the tools needed to build gripping opening scenes and write cohesive stories. This class is ideal for storytellers, writers, and anyone who wants to explore the inner workings of strong opening scenes.

[Applications]
Students who complete Creative Writing Essentials: Writing Stand-Out Opening Scenes will have the tools needed to craft compelling opening scenes and write cohesive stories. They will have learned about microcosms and macrocosms, character action, narrative movement, and driving questions. They will also have the opportunity to read through the rough and final draft of the opening scene of Shadowshaper.

[Career Paths]
1. Creative Writing Instructor: Creative writing instructors teach students the fundamentals of writing, such as grammar, composition, and storytelling. They may also provide guidance on how to develop characters, plot, and structure. As the demand for creative writing courses continues to grow, there is an increasing need for creative writing instructors.

2. Copywriter: Copywriters create content for websites, advertisements, and other marketing materials. They must be able to write compelling copy that engages readers and encourages them to take action. As digital marketing continues to evolve, copywriters must stay up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques to create effective content.

3. Content Editor: Content editors review and edit written content for accuracy, clarity, and consistency. They may also provide feedback on the content's structure and flow. As the demand for quality content increases, content editors are in high demand to ensure that content meets the highest standards.

4. Literary Agent: Literary agents represent authors and their work to publishers, editors, and other industry professionals. They must be knowledgeable about the publishing industry and have strong negotiation skills. As the publishing industry continues to evolve, literary agents must stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies to ensure their clients' success.

Pros & Cons

Pros Cons
  • pros

    Very helpful

  • pros

    Actionable steps to evaluate first scene

  • pros

    Clear and precise

  • pros

    Engaging teacher

  • pros

    Well organized, well explained, well phrased

  • pros

    Powerful lessons

  • pros

    Very practical

  • pros

    Humble and honest point of view

  • cons

    None

Course Provider

Provider Skillshare's Stats at OeClass