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Your Story Structure

2-week course

How to build a strong framework for
your compelling story

So you've started to write. You found a brilliant character, a witty or profound voice, a spectacular setting. And yet, you just can't seem to keep the story going. It just... peters... out.

Character. Voice. Dialogue. Place. Style. All these elements are crucial in the forming of a compelling story. But without a solid structure, none of these elements are enough. The story flounders. The writer gets stuck.

Structure is the skeleton of story, the shape that holds everything together. For most writers, finding the structure is the key to making the story work. For many writers, it's the most difficult element.

Whether you're working on a novel, memoir, narrative non-fiction, or short stories, this course on structure will help you understand the mysteries of what holds a story together, and how to make your story sing.

This is a course that will teach you to understand classical narrative and to apply it to your own writing. Using exercises, discussion and carefully selected examples, you'll complete the course with a new understanding of your own story and how to make it work.

Here's what you'll learn

During this course, you’ll cover:

finding the shape of your story
narrative shapes: the hero's journey and mythic quest
rising and descending line narratives
mimesis and catharsis – the magic of story
making an active protaganist
how to find and maintain conflict
external narrative and internal change
creating turning points
set-up, pay-off and the perfect resolution
and MUCH more

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Learn from the best

KATHRYN HEYMAN

This course is presented by Dr Kathryn Heyman, the author of four novels, all published internationally and in translation. She's been nominated for the Edinburgh Fringe Critics Awards, the Orange Prize, Scottish Writer of the Year Award, the Kibble Prize, the West Australian Premiers Prize. The Accomplice won the Arts Council of England Writers Award and Captain Starlight's Apprentice was serialised on BBC Radio and is now in development as a feature film. She has taught Creative Writing for the University of Oxford, and mentors writers in Australia and the UK. ...more

Courses are held at our harbourside Centre in Milsons Point

DIRECTIONS TO THE
SYDNEY WRITERS’ CENTRE

About working with Kathryn Heyman:

Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (winner, Commonwealth Prize) says:
“The structure of Curious Incident owes a great deal to Kathryn Heyman. As she was speaking (about story structure) I saw the clouds open, a shaft of heavenly light fell into the room, angels sang...”

Jane Rusbridge, author of The Devil's Music (Bloomsbury, London) says:
“Kathryn Heyman is an inspirational and charismatic teacher. With her trademark energy, humour, and profound understanding of story structure, she encouraged me to ask the hard questions, and to discover the answers.”

Centre Director, Ted Hughes Arvon Centre, Yorkshire, UK say:
"Feedback on your course has been the best we've ever had: 'outstanding', 'amazing', 'above and beyond' etc etc. The session on structure was like you'd lit a match in the room."

Next available course:

Your Story Structure with Kathryn Heyman

Friday morning classes (once a week for two weeks)
TIME: 9.30am - 12.30pm
FEE: $250 (includes GST)

COURSE STARTS:

2012 dates to be confirmed

NEXT AVAILABLE:

Your Story Structure
with Kathryn Heyman
Friday morning classes
(once a week for two weeks)
TIME: 9.30am - 12.30pm
FEE: $250 (includes GST)

COURSE STARTS:

2012 dates to be confirmed

LOCATION

55 Lavender Street
Milsons Point NSW

Directions to the
Sydney Writers' Centre

RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT
YOUR STORY STRUCTURE

"Kathryn is a bright personality who really grabs your attention and doesn't let it go – the same way a book should. Her insights into different aspects of plotting are invaluable to both beginning writers and more established ones.

"Furthermore, she has some brilliant techniques to get you deep inside your character, which will make it much easier for you to plot the story. Kathryn was tops. She's deeply into what she does and wants to get the best out of her students. She listens well and will help you create your idea into a writable plot."
- Sean O’Connor

"This morning course was delightful – one could enjoy the stunning setting and public transport was 'to the door', as well as an excellent presenter and interesting participants."
- Pamela Huggins