Saturday, April 7, 2012, Plot Intensive and Transform Your Writing through the Universal Story -- Plot at the overall story level

9:00-3:00PM
Hosted by CWC - Sacramento Branch
Sacramento, California

WHAT: Are you confused by plot? You are not alone. Plot springs from character in conflict and is the single-most challenging aspect of writing writers face. Plot demands an interweaving of the dramatic action, the character emotional development, and the thematic significance. Learn how to apply the universal story structure to your unique project. Learn:

  • 7 Key Scenes in Every Great Story
  • Character Emotional Development versus Emotional Change
  • Cause and Effect
  • Thematic Significance, Mood, Pace, and Authentic Details
  • Long- and Short-term Goals
  • Scene Development

Time to create a Plot Planner for your individual writing project.Plot demands the interweaving of Character Emotional Development, Dramatic Action and Thematic Significance. Stories are lived, and character revealed, in the answers to three questions:

  • What does the protagonist want?
  • What is stopping her from attaining it?
  • What are she willing to do to get it?
Attendees will learn the answers to story questions in this interactive workshop. Stand back from your novel, memoir and screenplay to see the deeper meaning.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Experienced writers desiring to deepen their writing; writers at any level with imagination and interest in any genre; readers, artists and creative people of all types; writers of fiction and creative nonfiction, as well as non-fiction writers in search of insights to structure their narratives

  • Looking more closely at the dynamics of cause and effect to create scenes that lead to a solid plot.
  • Explore how well-constructed characters in conflict act as the driving force behind an exceptional story to create your own exceptional story.
  • Delve into theme and give your project lasting meaning.

Novelists, screenwriters,memoirists, and writers of creative nonfiction benefit from a well-constructed plotline of the dramatic, emotional, and thematic elements of your project. A clearly formulated plotline will help you get going, prevent you from stalling partway through, and guarantee that even those of you who never finish anything will make to the end.

Beginners, intermediates and advanced writers alike are encouraged to bring your characters and a list of the scenes in your story. For those of you who have not yet started a writing project, let us know and we will provide you with everything you need. Though each Plot Intensive has a unique focus, you are always guaranteed fellowship with other writers in an safe setting.

The plot writing workshops are divided between lecture, time for development of the plotlines for your individual project, and movement. For the sake of convenience, the lectures give independent consideration to the dramatic (action), emotional (character development), and thematic aspects of story, but keep in mind that all aspects of a successful writing project must become integrated into the total structure to create its unity, and that achieving this unity is the goal of every writer.

The cost is:

    Before 3/10:
  • $85 for CWC members
  • $95 for non-members

    • After 3/10:

  • $99 for CWC members
  • $109 for CWC members

Fee includes morning coffee and bagels, and a lunch buffet

To reserve a spot now, SIGN-UP for the 4/7th Plot Planner Workshop, contact Margie Yee Webb by calling 916-213-0798 or emailing margie (at) catmulan (dot) com (substitute the symbols for the words in parenthesis). No on-line registration at this time.