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A three-and-a-half day course devoted to
the creation of breathtaking, page-turning fiction!
This new workshop with Donald Maass explores
THE key ingredient for writing success:
TENSION ON EVERY PAGE!
Through lively discussion and structured exercises dealing with
your manuscript-in-progress, you’ll learn how to make your novel
irresistible—to agents, editors, and readers.
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“One of the misconceptions of strong writing is that tension
means plot. Set the main conflict quickly, and you’ve got your
reader hooked. Wrong! What keeps us reading is micro-tension
on a line-by-line basis. Thus, I stress building tension on
every page—meaning tension in dialogue, action, and exposition.
Then tension in scenes. Next, tension in premise. Finally, and
only then, tension in plot.”
– Donald Maass
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PLANNED SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY (FULL DAY): MICRO-TENSION:
Today’s focus: how to make every word, every line, every
paragraph, and every page of your manuscript rich and compelling.
We’ll look at examples from published works and from student
pages. Attendees will work alone and in groups to rewrite pages
for maximum tension, then we’ll come back together to share and
discuss the revised works.
FRIDAY (FULL DAY): SCENE TENSION
Students will work on one random scene in their manuscripts,
breaking it down to its bare bones and rebuilding it. We’ll
start from the turning point and work backward to the opening.
Every addition will be examined for its contribution to tension.
In the afternoon the students will rewrite their scenes, and
again, we’ll come back together to share our work as a group.
This exercise is a powerful lesson in both the mechanics of
scene-building and the creation of potent moments of maximum impact.
SATURDAY (FULL DAY): PREMISE AND PLOT TENSION
Today, students will share their story premises, reading their
“pitches” or brief query letters. Then we’ll ask, “What are the
most compelling elements here?” We’ll hone in on these essentials
and work to bring them into sharper relief. Then we’ll toss out
other ideas for creating the unusual, the unexpected, and the
deeply compelling.
In the afternoon, we’ll turn our attention to larger issues of plot,
with a focus on how stake-raising steps become critical turning
points. We’ll also discuss subtext, antagonist success (vs.
protagonist setbacks), cliffhangers—and more.
SUNDAY (HALF DAY): WRAP-UP/FIRE IN YOUR FICTION:
Students and staff will share their favorite passages from their own
works and the works of others.
Also featuring: FIRE IN YOUR FICTION: A brief intensive on using
your passion to add life to your writing. With all new material from
Don Maass’s upcoming book.
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“By rewriting an old reject using Don’s mantra of tension on
every page, I had a publishing contract within six months. I
love my agent, but she didn’t teach me the final bit of craft
that pushed me over. Donald Maass did.”
-- Jack Getze, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY
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November 6 - 9, 2008: Tampa, FL
Bay Harbor Hotel
NEW STUDENTS:
$479 before August 8, 2008/$529 thereafter
RETURNING STUDENTS*:
$449 before August 8, 2008/$499 thereafter
June 25 – 28, 2009: New York City, New York
NEW STUDENTS:
$499 before April 25, 2009/$549 thereafter
RETURNING STUDENTS*:
$469 before April 25, 2009/$519 thereafter
REGISTER NOW
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Workshop fee includes refreshments; lunch on Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday; book-signing and reception with hors d’oeuvres
on Saturday night; workshop materials, and more.
Students are responsible for their own lodging and other meals.
Discounted hotel room rates available.
See registration confirmation for further details.
*”Returning student” refers to any student who has attended either
a Breakout Novel weekend workshop or Breakout Novel Intensive,
sponsored by Free Expressions Seminars. Other day-long or weekend
programs sponsored by other organizations don’t, unfortunately,
apply.
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