Foundations of Fiction
Master the six foundations that make up all novels, short stories, and memoirs in this online fiction writing course
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"This course is AMAZING. You learn so much so fast - all stuff you can actually use."
- Alicia M.
"This course has given me the inspiration and foundational writing tools to get started on my first novel."
- Kirsty S.
"I already had a plot developed but I learned how to make it a 100 times better from this course"
- Ric V.
The 6 Skills Every Fiction Writer MUST Master
You can’t build a solid house on a shaky foundation. Just like you can’t become a better writer, until you master the 6 basic skills that every fiction writer must know.
Whether you want to write novels, short stories, memoirs, flash fiction or even screenplays and stage plays, this course will help you master the 6 Universal Foundations that make up all great fiction: Character, Dialogue, Point of View, Narrative Style, Setting, and Plot.
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer looking to improve your craft, this fun, interactive course (jam packed with over 6 hours of video and more than 25 fun writing exercises) will give you the skills, confidence, and inspiration you need to become a FICTION WRITING MASTER!
This course is jam packed full of:
- Examples from popular books and movies that will help you fully grasp the elements of great storytelling
- Loads of fun, inspiring writing prompts designed to spark your imagination, get your creative juices flowing, and implement the topics covered in each lecture
- Tons of practical writing tips and advice to take you on an unforgettable creative journey toward becoming an exceptional fiction writer
With two learning tracks (Foundation and Advanced), this course offers a unique flexible curriculum, allowing you to learn at your own pace and skill level.
If you’re just starting out, try our Foundation Track to master the basics first before moving onto the more advanced elements. Or, if you’re a more seasoned writer (or someone who enjoys an extra challenge!), try our Advanced Track to dive deeper into each of the six areas of fiction writing mastery.
Regardless of which track you choose, we guarantee that after taking this course, you will:
- Be more inspired to write
- Feel more confident about your writing
- Notice a vast improvement in your writing abilities
By the End of This Course, You'll Be Able To:
Create complex, realistic characters who will jump right off the page
Write vibrant, riveting dialogue that will breathe life into your scenes
Choose the best point of view for every scene
Compose intricate, scintillating prose that will pull readers in from the first word
Construct vivid, memorable settings that will shape the world of your story
Structure masterful, gripping plots that will hook readers and keep them turning pages
Meet Your Instructors
Jessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including The System Divine trilogy, the Unremembered trilogy, The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, A Week of Mondays, Better You Than Me and I Speak Boy. She’s also the author of the Descendants: School of Secrets series, based on the hit Disney Channel original movie, Descendants, and the LEGO Disney Princess chapter Books. Her books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. Her first non-fiction book, SAVE THE CAT! WRITES A NOVEL (a how-to plotting guide for novelists) is out now from Ten Speed Press/Random House. She lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.
Joanne Rendell is the author of three novels published by Penguin. She is also the co-author (with Jessica Brody) of The System Divine trilogy, a sci-fi reimagining of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, published by Simon and Schuster. She writes essays and interviews for the Huffington Post and other publications. She also has a PhD in literature and teaches fiction writing to teens and kids in New York City, where she lives with her husband and son.
What Students are Saying
Course Outline
Introduction
Foundation Block #1: Character
Foundation Block #2: Dialogue
Foundation Block #3: Point of View
Foundation Block #4: Narrative Style
Foundation Block #5: Setting
Foundation Block #6: Plot
Final Farewell
This course is part of the Writing Mastery Academy
Here's what you'll get as a member:
Save the Cat! Novel Writing Course
OFFICIAL SAVE THE CAT! COURSE
Discover the secret storytelling code behind all great novels and use it to outline, write, or revise your own
Included with Membership
Novel Fast Drafting Course
Stop stressing, second-guessing, and revising endlessly. Learn the fastest, most efficient way to write novels (and finish them every single time)
Included with Membership
The Complete Novel Revision Course
Learn a time-tested, step-by-step revision process for taking your novel from first draft to final draft
Included with Membership
Crafting Dynamic Characters
Learn to create fully fleshed-out, dynamic characters and how to reveal them to the reader in a way that grabs their attention and captures their heart
Included with Membership
Foundations of Fiction
Master the foundations of compelling fiction and use them to craft killer novels, memoirs, or short stories
Retail Price: $99
Included with Membership
Scene Crafting Masterclass
Master the art of writing scenes that hook, engage, and leave readers hungry for more, with craft book & fiction author Jordan Rosenfeld
Retail Price: $199
Included with Membership
Level Up Your Writing
Challenge your creativity and sharpen your skills across seven key story elements in this interactive online course with bestselling author Scott Reintgen
Retail Price: $199
Included with Membership
Productivity Hacks for Writers
Learn to "hack" your brain, space, and devices to stay focused, be more productive, and get the most out of every writing day
Retail Price: $99
Included with Membership
Secrets to Self-Publishing Success
A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to successfully self-publishing and marketing your novel, with bestselling author Bethany Atazadeh
Included with Membership
Develop Blockbuster Ideas that Sell
Unleash your creativity and brainstorm "high-concept" book and movie ideas that sell
Retail Price: $99
Included with Membership
Conquering Writer's Block
Proven strategies, techniques, and tools to overcome writer's block (for good!), and become a Prolific Writer
Retail Price: $99
Included with Membership
Sell Your Novel to a Major Publisher
A comprehensive, step-by-step insider's guide to selling your book and becoming a paid, published author
Retail Price: $199
Included with Membership
Fiction for Young Writers
A fun, interactive workshop to help young writers unlock their creativity, improve their craft, and write better stories (ages 9+)
Retail Price: $49
Included with Membership
All Future Courses
Members of Writing Mastery Academy always get first-look access to all future courses, with no change in membership price
2. Access to the Writing Mastery Community
($1,799 Value)
You're not in this alone
Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. As a Writing Mastery member, you'll become part of a thriving, positive community of writers of all skill levels, from around the world. With dedicated topic areas for each course, plus topics for staying accountable to achieving your goals, finding critique partners, discussing specific genres, or just talking shop, the Community is there to support you on every step of your writing journey.
Course Topics
Share progress, ask questions, answer questions, and chat with fellow writers taking the same course as you
Genre Discussions
Chat with other writers working on similar projects in your genre
Writing Sprints
Why write alone? Join a scheduled sprint, or create one any time to challenge and motivate yourself to write more!
Monthly Challenges
Fun and motivating challenges every month to help you stay motivated and get to know your fellow members
Critique Partners
Find critique partners and beta readers to help you get more eyes on your work
Goals & Accountability
Simply announcing your goals to others has a HUGE impact on your success. And you've got a place just for this!
Writers Only
This is not a Facebook group. It's a community of 100% writers, so there are no distractions
A few posts from our members:
3. Monthly "Members Only" Webinars + Recordings
($1,499 Value)
Get access to live, monthly webinars on specific writing topics. Most webinars end with a Q&A session, which gives you a chance to get your questions answered by industry experts. Can't join live? No worries! Recordings of every webinar are available to watch (or rewatch) anytime.
Here are a few of the webinars available to watch now:
4. "Office Hours" with Instructors & Guests
($799 Value)
Get Your Writing Questions Answered
Bring your questions to our live "Office Hours" webinars, where instructors and special guests spend time dedicated to answering member questions.
BONUS: Searchable Q&As from Office Hours & Webinars
($499 Value)
Get Answers Fast from our Growing Library of Answered Questions
We take the top questions from all our Office Hours and Webinars, edit them into their own mini-lectures, and categorize them for you. Categories include character development, fast drafting, NaNoWriMo, pacing, point of view, revising, writing process, worldbuilding, and more. It's very likely we've answered a question similar to yours, so this is a great resource to get answers fast!
Here's a sample of the available questions:
Character Development
- How to create well-rounded characters?
- Does a hero always have to change over the course of a story
- What's the best way to have a character realize something organically?
- How do I make readers like an unlikable character?
The Publishing Industry
- What is a realistic timeline between drafting and getting published?
- How do I find an editor?
- Can you publish on various platforms?
- Is traditional publishing still a viable path?
Revisions
- How do you keep track of your revision process?
- How do you know when you're done revising a chapter?
- What do I do if I get bored with the story I'm writing?
- How do I start revisions for a very messy draft?
Save the Cat! & Plotting
- How do you structure a series using Save the Cat!?
- How do the Save the Cat! beats relate to chapters?
- How do you use Save the Cat! in the revision process?
- Does a hero always have to change over the course of a story?
World Building
- How do you build a convincing fantasy world?
- How do you describe a world in a way that shows rather than tells?
- How much setting detail is too much?
- What's the difference between a world and a setting?
Writing Process
- How do you defeat perfectionism to finish a book?
- How do you find your voice as a writer?
- How do I prioritize all the story ideas I have and avoid leaving stories half-finished?
- How do I turn a hodgepodge of detailed notes and dialogue into a draft?
BONUS: "Page Breaks" & Surprise Bonus Content
($399 Value)
More Tools & Resources to Keep You Moving Forward
Your membership also includes loads of fun extras like “Page Breaks,” our weekly unscripted audio series hosted by Jessica Brody where we kick off Community discussions on everything from plot tips to storytelling epiphanies. Plus, you’ll receive surprise Bonus Content like free beat sheets, extra writing prompts, interviews with special guests, behind-the-scenes peeks at writers’ processes, and much much more! And the longer you’re a member, the more Bonus Content you’ll collect!
Here's Everything You'll Get When You Join the Writing Mastery Academy Today:
Unlimited access to all our on-demand writing courses
$2,137 value
The Writing Mastery Community
$1,799 value
Monthly "members only" webinars + webinar recordings
$1,499 value
"Office Hours" with instructors & guests
$799 value
Searchable Q&As from office hours & webinars
$499 value
"Page Breaks" & surprise bonus content
$399 value
TOTAL VALUE
$7,132
Join Now For Only:
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30-Day 100% Risk Free Guarantee
Our Promise: We think you'll love being a Writing Mastery Academy member, but if for any reason you don't, our membership is backed by a 30-day money back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Start your journey toward Writing Mastery today!
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