Each session of this course includes suggested reading, a written lecture, a writing assignment to turn in for instructor feedback, creative exercises to further your learning, and supplemental resources.
Session 1: Creating a Dynamic Concept
Session 2: Compelling Characters
Session 3: The Right Voice for the Right Story
Session 4: The Three-Act Plot Structure
Session 5: Showing Your Style
Session 6: How Theme Drives Plot
Session 7: Scenes Are the Building Blocks of Every Story
What will you learn?
Who should attend?
Required Reading
Meet the instructor
Terri Valentine
The writing career of romance novelist Terri Valentine is truly a Cinderella story. An avid reader all of her life, she began writing her first historical romance in the summer of 1985 on an old Smith-Corona manual typewriter. Of course it had several keys that stuck, and invariably every time she made even minor changes the entire manuscript had to be completely retyped. In spite of such adversities, she believed in herself and finished that first valiant effort, and then went on to revise her manuscript several times before satisfied.
One year later, Terri submitted Sea Dream to publishers. After several rejections, good ones she was later to learn by the standards of the industry, she went on to sell her book. Since then, she has been under steady contract. To date, she has ten romance novels and a Christmas short story in publication. Sweet Paradise was nominated for Best Romance Adventure by Romantic Times in 1992. Louisiana Caress received a coveted K.I.S.S (Knight in Shining Silver) Award from Romantic Times in 1993. Sands of Time (1993), her first time travel romance, is set in the Middle East. In 1995, Storm Dancer was a single release title from Zebra, followed in 1997 by the release of Paradise Promised. At present she is under contract for two more historicals, and she is currently working on a high-concept romantic novel that her agent anxiously awaits. She has also written a screenplay that is in production rewrites.
Terri Valentine is WDUâs critique editor for childrenâs picture books. Customers have been extremely pleased with the feedback provided by Terri. Terri said, âGood fiction writing is good fiction writing. Through my experience, Iâm able to âseeâ what works in a novel as well as a picture book.â
âMost valuable to me is the unstinted assistance and shared knowledge given to me by other writers throughout my career. I would never published if it had not been for the help of one such writer who offered support and encouragement from start to finish of that first manuscript.â Following in her mentor footsteps, she has eagerly critiqued manuscripts and helped other beginning novelists learn the taxing craft of writing, many of whom have gone on to publish.
