The Novel Effect 2 : Course Syllabus and Registration
Register for the course below.
Review the 5-week syllabus for the online writing course.
Read the introduction to The Novel Effect: a reader-centered approach to longform fiction here : http://bit.ly/MMSR1b
Course Syllabus : The Novel Effect
WEEK 1: (Begins July 23) What’s the measure of good writing? / Effect-driven novel writing
When you start a project, how will you know you’re finished? When the revision process starts, when does it stop? This week focuses on defining ‘good writing’ within the context of a project as a way to check in on your writing progress. We will also look at a method of using the reading experience as a springboard for creating work that engages readers and keeps you motivated through the long novel-writing process.
WEEK 2: (Begins July 30) The novel’s big secret, revealed
WEEK 3: (Begins August 6) Dialogue and atmosphere, the novel’s red-headed step children
Notes from an MFA fiction lecture might look like this: “Story, story, story, character, character, third person, story, story, story.” In this session, we destory (or even destroy) that approach by focusing on voice(s)-driven narrative created through dialogue and atmosphere. These areas take practice and are centered as much on art as craft.
WEEK 4: (Begins August 13) Research (aka, writing what you’d like to know rather than what you know)
The art of novel writing relies on making stuff up, then giving it an air of authenticity. This week focuses less on writing what you know than the stories you would like to tell and how to balance artifice with authenticity.
WEEK 5: (Begins August 20) Writing copy (without going all cutesy)
There comes a time when you want others to read your novel. This session presents an approach for describing your work in a way that’s honest and attracts the attention of readers. The focus this week is on very short taglines (140 characters or less) and one-page (500 word) summaries.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Richard Melo is the author of two novels, including Happy Talk(forthcoming from Red Lemonade in Fall 2012) and Jokerman 8(Soft Skull Press). He’s on Mediabistro’s list of best online writers and has written more than 100 book reviews appearing in Publishers Weekly, The Oregonian, and The Believer. Melo also has 14 years experience in adult education and online learning. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Follow him on Twitter: @misconstrue
The novel effect : Registration
Red Lemonade Workshops
The Novel Effect
Facilitated by Richard Melo
DATES: July 23-August 24, 2012
LOCATION: Wherever you can get a live connection to the cloud
COST: $155 (via Paypal)
Workshop is limited to 10 students.
You’ll be registered for the course as soon as payment is received via Paypal. If the enrollment closes, it will be indicated on this page.
After you are registered, you will receive course materials and instructions via email. The course will be using WordPress as its private platform. If you have a WordPress ID, you can use it during the course. Otherwise, you will receive log-in instructions from the course facilitator.
If you wish to drop the course, you can receive a 75 percent refund as long as you notify the facilitator by the end of the first week of the course (July 29, 2012).
http://misconstrue.wordpress.com/the-novel-effect-3-registration/
