Writer- How to write short stories, novellas and novels by Luca Collins

A two hour course per day run over three days that will give you the basics of what writers do including the three act structure, character development, themes, rhythm, writer’s P.O.V, an introduction to the Hero’s Journey. Luca will be presenting his novel ‘Dancing with the Midnight Mare’ and his Technical manual ‘Writer’. Follow up support for writers will be offered.

Have you a story you want to tell? Don’t know where to start? What is it that writers do? Where do ideas for stories come from? What are universal building blocks? Are these the questions you are asking? Let me take you through the structures and concepts of story building. We will explore the three act structure, turning points, character and dialogue, brainstorming, pace and rhythm, landscape as metaphor, how themes intersect with character, dialogue and action. We will look at the emotional core of character and why it is emotions and their psychological connections that are the principal dynamic of story and why action and dialogue serve emotion.

I will present these tutorials using examples from contemporary novels and the cannon of western literature. The three days will include several dozen exercises that will help you focus on what is the essence of your story and in what direction you want to take it. Commitment should be for all six hours and even then we will have only begun the journey.

I have a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney. Please contact me to confirm numbers.

Luca Collins has worked in the Australian Film industry, has directed a short film screened at two international film festivals. He is the author of three volumes of children’s plays published internationally. He periodically worked in professional theatre. His first novel is being launched in May at the Words on the Waves Literary Festival.