I was given the Creative Writing Course by Frontgate Media and Guideposts in order to facilitate this review
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I am a storyteller. If you don’t believe me, check out my social media bios. It says it right there…so it must be true! My blog and social readers expect funny, transparent writing with a spiritual vibe. I attempt to deliver. One Saturday morning, I learned that I might not be conveying the story in a way that keeps YOU, my reader, engaged and coming back for more of my wit and wisdom. That could be a problem.
Creative Writing Course
In two short hours on a Saturday morning I took How To Tell A Great Story: The Essential Writing Course from the Editors of Guideposts. The Creative Writing Course up leveled my future writing skills and influenced my storytelling. I look at my storytelling/writing through new eyes and itch to put what I learned to work. Hopefully, this post will reflect that.
“The power in storytelling is to keep that reader’s attention.”
I recommend this Guideposts Academy Creative Writing Course to all my blogging friends. The self-paced creative storytelling course contains 12 video modules that will guide you in your creative writing journey. Guideposts editors share how to make your story compelling and entertaining. The accompanying 42 page workbook helps you flesh out your story with prompts and reminders of the top content from the videos. They make it easy to write with more thought and care. There are module quizzes that reinforce the video learning. I wish you could easily correct a wrong answer without taking the entire quiz again.
What is a Story?
You learn the components of a story and how to inspire the reader’s wonder and curiosity. Time, Character, and Place create unity while the narrator takes them on a journey. You must give your reader something; teach them, take them on an emotional journey, or share a personal experience.
The editors also tell you how to start a story and how to end it. There are tips and tricks to both and to everything in between. It is all included in this Creative Writing Course.
Narrative Tension
” Troubles. Troubles. Troubles. Troubles.” said Rick Hamlin, executive editor of Guideposts magazine. “Imagine your readers. They have a thousand other things they could be doing… Keep a little narrative tension, Troubles, until the end and they will be hooked.” Those ‘Little Darlings’ or passages that you love will find a place in another post. Knowing that they do not belong in this post is the key to writing mastery.
Conflict and Change
Everyone wants to read a story about someone who faces something similar to what they face in life and learns how to deal with it. That is the premise of Conflict and Change. Show them the conflict or trouble and help them resolve or grow from it. Employ simple and powerful strategies.
You Gotta Be Brutal
Blogging for me has always been a brain dump with a quick read through polish. It seems my story posts were a good place to start, but far from expertly finished. A thorough ‘cutting’ [editing] would have eliminated all the unnecessary words and wandering thoughts that diminish the purpose for telling the story in the first place. The course uses the analogy of a sculptor ‘cutting away the marble’ to reveal a masterpiece.
You must be brutal in your second writing pass. Rewording is rewarding. Colleen Hughes, Editor-in-Chief of Angels on Earth magazine said, “It is hard to cut away things you love.” Oh yes it is! To give the reader the best experience, the cut tightens up the narrative and keeps them wanting more. Improve and adjust. There will always be things that need tweaked.
How to Enroll in the Creative Writing Course
What students are saying about the course:
Quick Course that is Very Helpful
This course is excellent! The short recorded sessions with Edward, Rick, Colleen, Jim, and Amy, were full of helpful information for writers in any genre. The workbook download helped me with note taking and reinforced the learning. I also am grateful that I can retake the course whenever I need a refresher. It is definitely worth $24.99. –Barbara Litchfield, April 30th, 2018
This course an incredible opportunity for me. No university could have done better. So much for so little money. I thank you all so very much. Will be sending something to you all regularly even if all I get is rejections! So grateful for the helpful information, I am tearing up as I write this. Patricia (Pat) Parish, Blessings to the teachers and all your personnel. –Patricia Parish, July 8th, 2018
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