The central battle for the writer, while drafting and revising, is between the need to keep the reader briskly turning the pages and the need to ably manage information.

In this seminar, we'll discuss practical strategies to achieve in the reader what John Gardner called "the vivid and continuous dream," so the reader might forget that he or she is reading at all, and might feel, instead, that he or she is now, through the power of prose, living "a life not one's own."

You'll leave this seminar with a practical understanding of these writerly tools and notions:

• Scene v. not-scene
• The six sentence types and their relationship to inherent drama
• In-time v. not-in-time
• The strengths and weaknesses of exposition and what to do about them
• The reasons for deploying the rhetorical, summary, informational, and reflective modes
• And the role of language (especially the verb) in all of this.

Course Takeaways:

• Mastering Narrative Pace: Participants will learn how to balance speed and authority in their writing, ensuring that their stories, essays, memoirs, and novels maintain a brisk narrative pace without sacrificing depth and clarity.

• Effective Use of Scene and Exposition: Writers will gain a nuanced understanding of when to employ scenes versus exposition, mastering the strengths and weaknesses of each to create dynamic and engaging prose.

• Enhancing Reader Engagement: By delving into the practical application of John Gardner's concept of "the vivid and continuous dream," participants will develop techniques to keep readers fully immersed and engaged, making them forget they are reading and instead feel as though they are living the story.

Why Take This Seminar? 

In the fast-paced, competitive world of writing, captivating your reader from the first sentence is crucial. This seminar, led by acclaimed author Kyle Minor, equips you with the essential tools to achieve just that. Whether you're crafting stories, essays, memoirs, or novels, this seminar will transform your writing, making your pages impossible to put down. By mastering these strategies, you'll not only keep your readers engaged but also elevate your writing to new heights, ensuring your work stands out in any literary landscape.

Can't Make It Live?

No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes.