Develop your writing: Plot and character with Greg Mosse and Kate Mosse

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Develop your writing: Plot and character with Greg Mosse and Kate Mosse

By The Guardian Masterclasses

Date and time

July 26, 2014 · 10am - July 27, 2014 · 5pm GMT+1

Location

The Guardian

Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Description

Through a series of practical exercises, workshops and discussions, students will develop stories with the potential to become fully-fledged novels

You may have an incredible idea for a novel, but without characters to care about, readers will see your plot as just stuff that happens to imaginary strangers.

This weekend offers a wealth of discussions, workshops and practical exercises that will expand the way you think about characters you think you already know intimately. You'll learn how their pasts drive their futures, how to keep their actions and reactions in character, and how to ensure their dialogue sounds natural without being pedestrian.

The course includes a Q&A session with Kate Mosse, author of the multi-million-selling novel Labyrinth and co-founder of the Orange Prize for Fiction.

By the end of the weekend, you'll have deep understanding of what makes a strong character, along with a detailed plot outline with the potential to become – with much additional hard work, of course – a fully-fledged novel.

Course content

This is an intermediate-level course aimed at writers who already have an idea for a novel, have already started writing but are unsure how to progress, or feel their work needs more substance. The topics covered include:

  • Depth of characterisation: How did your characters become those people?
  • Character development: What happened to your characters in their history?
  • Acting and reacting in character
  • Character-driven plot: Structuring a life story
  • Plot development
  • Working with a complete cast list
  • Natural dialogue and the rhythm of direct speech

There will also be ample time for individual feedback and Q&A.

Tutor profiles

Greg Mosse's creative writing teaching is based around the development of craft skills – well-judged sentences, paragraphs, episodes and chapters are the building blocks of good novels. He was programme leader for creative writing at West Dean College where he taught his own MA degree, validated by University of Sussex, and a wide range of short courses. He curates and teaches the Southbank Centre Creative Writing School and works in story development and consultancy for stage and screen. His knowledge of his subject comes from more than 20 years' professional experience as teacher, editor, translator and writer.

Kate Mosse OBE is the multi million # 1 bestselling author of the Languedoc Trilogy - Labyrinth, Sepulchre & Citadel - as well as a collection of short stories, two other novels, four works of non fiction and three plays. She is Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Women's Prize for Fiction - previously the Orange Prize and, from 2014, the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction - and one of the authors leading the campaign against library closures in the UK. She is on the Board of the National Theatre and on the Executive Board of Women of the World arts festival. Her new novel, The Taxidermist's Daughter, will be published in the autumn.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Organized by

Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.

We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.

Harnessing the expertise and specialisms within the organisation, our courses are led by first class and award winning guardian professionals whilst also drawing on the skills and expertise of other leading figures at the forefront of the creative and digital industries.

The programme is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

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