WritingWorkshops.com On Demand

COURSE SKELETON:

We’ll look at Shakespeare’s influences, going all the way back to Aristotle’s Poetics, and we’ll discuss the secret to being a productive writer. We’ll answer the eternal question: Where do ideas come from? We’ll also explore the difference between episodic and dramatic works—and why it matters.
 
WEEK 2
 
Shakespeare’s stories rarely lagged in the middle. And yet, nowadays, so many stories suffer in the middle. Much of what’s wrong with storytelling today can be traced back to a poor understanding of Freytag’s Pyramid, which was inspired in part by Shakespeare’s five-act structure. We’re going to redeem the five-act structure!

WEEK 3
 
Shakespeare was a genre writer. He had a keen understanding of tropes and how to exploit them as well as how to subvert expectations. But Shakespeare was probably best known for his ability to develop characters who moved the plot with meaningful consequences. Many novice writers stumble over these issues. This week, we’ll deal with it head on!
 
WEEK 4
 
Shakespeare had a certain way he liked to introduce main characters. He had a certain approach to establishing the setting. He had ways he preferred to build tension and handle violent moments. There are numerous tricks that he employed, which defy easy categorization. During this last week, we’ll cover as many of them as possible.

TAKE THIS CLASS IF:

• You want to be a prolific writer.
• You want to become a master of the five-act structure.
• You want to write fascinating, dynamic characters.
• You believe you could learn a thing or two from William Shakespeare.

TESTIMONIALS:

"The course is excellent. The instructor, David Hopkins, delivers the material effectively, he leans into the camera to make it appear as though he's talking directly to you. Very effective. His presentation style, and occasional levity, worked. The length of the videos was just right -- good balance between short and long; bite-sized for easy consumption and reflection.   I related to David as a working commercial writer myself. Too often, academics get behind a podium and speak about this in the abstract, or come down from the creative mountain to address striving writers. With this course, it felt like David was talking to us from his writing office (which, it appeared, he was).  The feature interviews were a great touch. I really enjoyed them.  The course content was a good balance between understanding Shakespearean writing style and application to personal writing skills. Assignments were appropriate. As someone who doesn't have a lot of free time, I fit this course in. Any more content/assignments may have been too much. This was just right." - Dennis A.