Stephen King said that if you want to become a writer, you must do two things above all else: write a lot and read a lot. So I’ve started a book club exclusively for writers who read with purpose, to learn as much as possible from successful novels, so that you can apply that knowledge to your own writing.

Each meeting we pick apart a novel  with the goal of uncovering how the author has utilized their skills to great effect. Storytelling is an art, but it’s not a mystery. Every writer must address the following:

1. Structure, Timeline, Pacing, Suspense, Omission
2. Point of View, including Voice, Character, Place
3. Tense, Argot, Imagery, Metaphor, Symbols
4. Motivation: Making a story pop – generating a thrill

The results of this kind of close study of Pulitzer-Prize winning art will elevate your writing game and allow you to sit at the master’s feet, guided by Writing Coach Annalisa Parent to point out nuances, connections and techniques. Opportunities for implementing observations in your own writing will be offered. If you’re looking to up your writing game, and stay in momentum toward publication, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Session 1 To Kill A Mockingbird. Dates Mondays, October 8-November 12

1 hour

RESOURCES:

The Arch Plot Structure: The Intersection of the Three-Act structure & Story Arc

Literary Archetypes: Archetypal Settings, characters, and plots

Close Reading of a Literary Passage (How To)

How to Read Like a Writer

Session 1: Discussion of Handouts and how to read like a writer. Discussion a a short story.

Session 2-6: 1 hour discussion on 6 chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird.