<a href="https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/6502-specialization-in-novel-writing">Specialization in novel writing

Sensory elements that provide

Finally, I will teach you how to create effective atmospheres that involve your reader in the story.

The correction

In this lesson I will share some aspects to take into account when correcting your text.

Publication of your text

Congratulations, you finished your text! And now, what's next? Here I give you some clues.

Writing Short Stories and Novels from Scratch

Module 3

Learn the key elements to develop your idea from scratch and turn it into a short story or novel

10 lessons (1h 15m)

Why Do We Tell Stories?

In this lesson I will tell you where stories are born, when a person decides they want to write one, and the inspiration that ignites it.

The Shape of Stories

I will talk about the differences between a novel and a short story to begin to discern why a story works better in one and not in the other, and vice versa.

The Seed of Storytelling and the Map of the Greenhouse

Now I will talk to you about how to start recording a story, from the moment it occurs to you until you take materials for its first shoots.

History, History, Are You There?

Where do the stories come from and what can you do to give them a good birth? The world is full of stories, you don't necessarily have to make one up from scratch, but you can start with what's at hand.

Narrator, Journey, and Creation of a World

In this lesson I am going to explain how and why it is important that you define what your protagonist is like, the characters that will accompany him and the space and time in which the story will unfold.

Action and Structure

What will happen to your protagonist and other characters? Where will you start the narrative? In this lesson you will learn to break down your story into actions and the main parts of any narrative: beginning, middle and end.

The Story Test

You already have the elements of your story, so enough of beating around the bush and let's answer the most important question: is your story a short story or a novel?

If Your Result Is a Story, It's Time to Write It Down!

It's time to sit in front of the computer with your rundown or story guide and write that story that already has a skeleton.

If Your Result Is Novel, What Do You Expect?

Wow, wow. The test tells you that the story can be a novel. So, to get down to work, here I will give you some tips to start it.

The Writer's Routine: Write, Correct, Publish, and Write Again

What is it like to live from writing? Wait: is it possible to live from writing? Does a person write and the contracts to publish fall from the sky?

Module 4

Learn the keys to writing a novel and stimulate your imagination with practical exercises that connect you with your inner world

21 lessons (4h 11m)

Materials 1

In this lesson I will tell you about the materials that I propose to use in the course. There will be two notebooks, one to exercise your creativity and go hunting for new ideas, and the other where you will work on the structural elements of a novel.

In this second part of the lesson, I will explain the importance of the rituals that you can create to help you cross the threshold from the everyday world to the world of creation.

Materials 2

Imagination 1

We are going to let go of the crazy woman in the house who is our imagination. To do this, we will try to get rid of the blocks that affect our creativity and hinder the development of all the potential that we carry within. It is time to shut up our critical and censorious side, to enjoy and have fun in this first phase of creation, where we can overcome our limits and censorship, it also allows us to create original ideas related to ourselves.

20m

Imagination 2

Now what I propose to do is an exercise to unlock creativity, to try to take away what we have seen: fear, need, usefulness and leave everything behind. I'm going to tell you what works for me, what works for me and what I like to do, is to make a transition between the everyday world and the creative. I suggest you join me and try these exercises.

12m

Looking for Us 1

It is time to access our unconscious, our child self, to use divergent thinking instead of convergent. It is time to have fun, to play, to meet up, to decide what we are going to write about, what interests us, what excites us or terrifies us. It is time to go in search of our inner world.

I will show you the process I go through to access my unconscious. Also, I will share with you some of the things that are on my wish and wish list that were the result of the method I used.

Looking for Us 2

Theme, Idea and Plot 1

In this lesson we will travel from the theme to the idea and from the idea to the plot of the novel. We will see where ideas can come from and how the connection of two or more of them, the more disparate the better, is a good alternative to specify an original plot. You will see how to analyze some plot models that can serve as inspiration for the internal order of the story, such as the fascinating Greek tragedy.

13m

Theme, Idea and Plot 2

One of the things that I like to use is frame models, so now I will explain how these models work. That will help your idea to grow little by little. Also, I will give you certain ideas to turn into an argument.

17m

Theme, Idea and Plot 3

To conclude this lesson, I am now going to tell you about another plot model that is a model that I am passionate about and that I used to write my novel Tierra de brumas . I will explain everything you need to know about the stories of rise and fall.

Characters: Construction or Possession 1

Now I will explain the keys to creating characters and discovering those that we carry inside. Our goal is for them to live by themselves and not be a simple replica of the author. We will also see the distinction between the flat and round characters of the writer EM Foster.

Characters: Construction or Possession 2

What can add more to your characters? One of the fundamental elements that you can use to characterize your characters more is the time, in addition, I will tell you about "the momentum" that will keep your character on his journey.

The conflict is a direct route to the heart and mind of the character. If we know his conflicts and the strategies he decides to follow in each of them, we will know him. Also, the conflict is essential to specify the plot of the novel, since all its dramatic force will reside in the conflict.

The Conflict

I will tell you about the importance of the narrator in a novel, since it is essential. The narrator is the voice that tells the story and never matches the author.

Of Narrators and Gods 1

18m

Of Narrators and Gods 2

Now you will see the different types of narrators that you can find by their relationship with what is narrated.

Objects are magical material in a text. They have an important symbolic value and serve a dramatic function. They are very useful narrative and aesthetic links for the construction of a novel. We can characterize characters and places through them

Objects

Space is a very useful tool to enrich a novel. We can characterize characters through him even make him one more character in the story. We will also explore exciting territories such as frontier spaces.

Space

12m

Time

At the time of writing we become gods who manage time at will to tell a story, since a prose text involves the narration of events in a temporal sequence. The objective time that we live is very different from the subjective time that is that of fiction.

Time Jumps: Narrative Form and Tension

In this lesson I am going to talk to you about time management, fundamental when building our novel. It is necessary to be very clear about the novel's focus of greatest interest - the main event - and to build the timeline from it, the order in which the events will unfold. I show you!

Our Novel Scheme

We are going to review all the elements that you have learned and that will help us to embark on the adventure of writing a novel.

A Good Start

Starting to write a text is fascinating. We had the world at our disposal and we have already made a first choice of what we want to tell, among the infinite possibilities that existed. The beginning is also the gateway to the world we have created. Do we want the reader to enter smoothly or with a claw?

17m

Everything Is Possible If You Fit Into the Created World

The main rule for writing a novel is that there are no rules. It is only necessary that both the facts of fiction and the structural elements are coherent in the created world. The persuasive power of a novel is essential so that its truth is not broken, and the reader discovers the author pulling the strings of fiction. For this, the laws of the novel that we have created for our history must be respected.

Module 5

Take inspiration from a memory, someone you know, or even a stranger to develop the protagonist for a great story

12 lessons (2h 28m)

What is a character?

In this lesson I will talk about the character as a structural element of every story. Its construction starts from us, from our emotions, until it becomes a being with its own life. To do this, we have to trust him and us as writers, and surrender to the mystery.

Where can a character come from?

A character can be the spark from which our story starts. It can be inspired by someone we know, a historical figure, or even an invented character. In both cases, we will see what to do so as not to turn it into a simple puppet at our service.

The characterization of a character is the sum of attributes, traits and qualities that make him unique and original. In this lesson I will explain how to define a character based on their physical, social and family characteristics, as well as the difference between character and personality. I will also teach you how to translate your weaknesses, fears or desires into actions that will become scenes within a story.

Character Creation 1

16m

Character Creation 2

I continue characterizing my character, in this case defining his family and social context, and his relationship with the rest of the attributes.

15m

Objective and conflict

In this lesson we are going to investigate what needs our character has, according to the pyramid of the psychologist Abraham Maslow, and how these become his objectives.

Character introduction

In this lesson I will explain the differences between direct and indirect characterization when introducing the character in the text.

15m

Dramatic Roles and Archetypes

Next, I will tell you what dramatic functions are and why it is important to know which one the character plays in a text. In addition, we will see different archetypes with examples of famous people to inspire you in the creation of yours.

18m

Characters in action

Now we will see how the characters relate to each other and make sense depending on whether they are complementary or opposite. I will talk to you about the concept of protagonist, antagonist, secondary character and collective character.

The place and the object 1

In this lesson we will see how to characterize characters through spaces and objects to enrich our story and give it more depth by connecting various elements of it.

13m

The place and the object 2

Now I am going to tell you several cases in which I have used an object to define or represent a characteristic of my character.

Now is the time to decide from which point of view you are going to tell your story. In this lesson we will talk about total, half and partial immersion.

The point of view

Seriality: second lives of the characters or sequels

Finally, I want to tell you what are the characteristics that a serial character must have, as well as the most common themes that series and sequels deal with, such as family or love.

Module 6

Discover the elements needed to write mysterious and gripping stories that bring enigmatic characters to life

13 lessons (1h 19m)

What is a detective novel?

You will learn to recognize a crime novel and what makes it different from other types of novels.

The storyline

Here begins the work of everything you will do throughout the course. To do this, I will teach you everything you need to know about the importance of being clear about the subject of your crime novel.

The "detective"

Now I will introduce you to the main character of your crime novel: the detective. This person will be in charge of leading your reader by the hand to the story you are writing. I will tell you about the best known detectives in literature and you will also discover the various types that exist. You will surely be inspired to create yours!