The Art of Storytelling

Instructor: Ms. Heather

Course Summary

What makes a good story? This course is a 25-unit course specifically teaching students how to write and tell a great story. It will be informed by the writing strategies of many of the most famous fiction writers of our time. Students will learn skills to be better storytellers and more confident communicators. This course will combine narrative theory and writing exercises to explore the many different genres of storytelling and the fundamental skills to write a memorable story.

By the end of the course, students will have a basic understanding of all the key components of. storytelling including character development, brainstorming, navigating writer’s block, plot development, outlining, developing setting, and building imaginary worlds. Students will also have the opportunity to write stories in a variety of different genres, present them to the class, and receive customized weekly feedback and suggestions from the teacher and peers.

Assignments

Students will receive weekly fictional writing assignments and exercises which will be marked and returned with analysis and customized feedback. Students will have the opportunity to work on a personal short story project and take their story from brainstorming through revisions to completion and self-publication.

Materials

Students will be provided all materials for this course.

1. Truth in Fiction: Deciding How to Tell Your Story

2. Finding Your Source of Inspiration, Your Voice, and Dealing with Mistakes

3. Mapping Out Your Story’s Structure and Plot

4. Starting Your Story With Excitement

5. Exploring Storytelling Traditions

6. Who Tells the Story: Point of View

7. Developing Your Characters and Bringing Them To Life

8. Revealing Character

9. World Building: Setting

10. Observing the World and Using Sensory Imagery

11. Writing Through Roadblocks

12. Humor

13. Creating Dialogue

14. Writing the Middle and Ending

15. Illustrating Your Story

16. Rewriting, Editing and Feedback

17. Publishing Your Story (and Self-Publishing Techologies)

18. Genres: Comics

19. Genres: Autobiographies

20. Genres: Scary Stories

21. Genres: Fairytales

22. Genres: Historical Fiction

23. Genres: Fantasy

24. Genres: Mystery/Crime

25. Genres: Apocalyptic/Science Fiction