July 29 @ 7:00 pm - July 31 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Join editor Eileen Robinson and author Jennifer Gennari for thoughtful discussions and writing exercises that will help you infuse emotion into your novel, deepen your characters and plot, and build an emotional journey for your readers.
This program is a great fit if you’re looking for a short course of two, 75-minute sessions offering limited interaction with the community, but loads of information.
- Monday, July 29, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- Recordings available until August 31, 2024
Why This Workshop?
Characters have an emotional journey over the course of a novel. As a result, our readers change their emotional states over the course of your novel as they connect with your work.
How do we handle these journeys with care? How do we show the wide range of reactions and actions that make a novel truly a memorable experience?
Join editor Eileen Robinson and author Jennifer Gennari to find out.
In this hands-on mini you will:
- Uncover the writer and reader experiences in your novels,
- Discover the importance of character action as it relates to emotion,
- Analyze character arcs and plots,
- and engage in writing exercises each night (with ideas to expand!)
Bring something to write on (and something to write with) for the exercises that take place during the session.
Feedback Expected
- None included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are starting out as a novelist, and looking for information about creating emotionally relevant characters and scenes.
- You are a novelist working on revising a work-in-progress. This course will offer considerations for your next draft.
- You are considering writing middle grade or young adult and want to learn more about bringing emotion to the page.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop, instead it is two, 75-minute sessions meant to engage and build your knowledge as a novelist.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through August 31, 2024.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Time.
Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: July 29, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Bringing deep emotions up: The writer and reader experience
- Writing exercise: A 7-minute sprint
- Making characters move: Actions and reactions
- Q&A
Part Two: July 31, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Earning the emotion: Your story’s emotional arc
- Deepening connections: Your character’s emotional impact
- Writing exercise: A 7-minute sprint
- Q&A
How It Impacts Kids
Adding emotion to your novel connects your readers to the characters and plot. This short course will help you discover ways to bring emotion forward in your work.
Related Resources
- 3 Questions With Jennifer Gennari About Getting Organized Before You Start to Write
- Creating Memorable Characters Means Being Patient and Asking a Lot of Questions
- Beginning a Novel: The Secret Is, There Is No Secret
- #HFGather: Sarah Aronson and Erin Entrada Kelly Talk Character and Process
- Use Research, Imagination and Emotion to Build Your Novel
Testimonials from Our Community
“Eileen helped me embrace being vulnerable and not hide feelings. Her encouragement gave me faith in my writing and to not give up.”
“I feel so lucky to have had Jen as an instructor. She was the perfect combination of warm and friendly, and professional and resourceful. I’m a much more confident writer and editor after taking her class.”
“I knew I could not attend in person but I signed up because you offered the recording. Having that option was invaluable.”
“Keep the mini courses going for those of us that can’t attend at the Highlights Foundation Campus! It helps us stay in touch and keep our skills growing!!”
