Novel Writing Fundamentals
A self-paced, on-demand course from award-winning author Emily Maguire
Always wanted to write a novel? This practical, easy-to-follow course offers everything you need to get started.
Many people feel inspired to try writing a book, but figuring out how to take an idea and turn it into a whole novel can be overwhelming. What’s the difference between a bunch of events and a cohesive plot? What do you need to know about your characters to make them feel like real people? How do you craft setting and atmosphere? And what about point of view?
In this three-hour course from award-winning novelist Emily Maguire, you will:
- develop an understanding of how to craft a simple plot outline
- learn and practise the basics of character, setting and point of view
- complete a variety of writing exercises to build your novel-writing skills.
For more information, see our FAQ below.
Course level: Aspiring
Writing NSW members receive a $20 discount. Contact Writing NSW for your discount code. Not a member? Join here.
This short, on-demand course is a fantastic introduction to Emily Maguire's annual 'Year of the Novel' course at Writing NSW, which regularly sells out. If you're interested to find out more about future iterations of Year of the Novel, join the waitlist here.
Your Instructor
Emily Maguire is the author of six novels and three non-fiction books, and an experienced teacher and mentor to young and emerging writers. Her novels have been translated into 12 languages and her articles, essays and reviews have been published widely. She is a 2010 and 2013 Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelist of the Year and was the 2018/2019 Writer-in-Residence at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. Her latest novel is Love Objects. Find her at emilymaguire.com.au.
Course Curriculum
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PreviewIntroduction
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StartWhat Is a Plot?
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StartCause and Consequence
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StartThe World’s Simplest Plot Outline
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StartNormal Life, Inciting Incident and The New Normal
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StartExercise: The World’s Simplest Plot Outline
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StartConflict
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StartExercise: Conflict and Complications
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StartExercise: Return to the World’s Simplest Plot Outline
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StartIntroduction
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StartGetting to Know Your Characters
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StartExercise: ‘Going Deep' Character Questionnaire
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StartPlot and Character
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StartA Tree Falls on a Character ...
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StartThe Push-Pull of Character and Plot
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StartExercise: Character-Plot Push-Pull
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StartGetting What You Know About Characters on to the Page
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StartExercise: Practising Characterisation