Workshop
write a great beginning
$17
Outline your beginning scene by scene, drawing the reader in, establishing the character and conflict, and leading the reader or viewer into the story middle.
Barbara Vance
Instructor
8
lessons
1h 44m
video runtime
2
downloads
Course Description
Good stories make your audience curious about the characters and their world. story world and the characters. This workshop focuses on the first act of a story—from page one until the middle. We will examine in detail the many ways you can structure your story’s beginning on a scene-by-scene level and will then guide you through exercises so you can do the same.
This workshop addresses:
- How values and beliefs function, and how to leverage them to ensure complex, three-dimensional characters.
- Establish the story problem(s)
- Create interesting characters with mystery
- Choose what to reveal about setting
- Decide where to begin your story
- Structure your story
This course includes
- An extensive class outline to follow along with the video lessons
- A comprehensive workbook that helps you design the first third of your story scene-by-scene
- Numerous literary excerpts and examples with coinciding video lessons
What's Inside
This course includes extensive notes to follow along with the video lessons, and a workbook that will get you started planning your beginning.
What People Are Saying
I am completely blown away. By the time I was done I literally had a scene-by-scene plan of the entire start of my story and a MUCH BETTER sense of what I needed to accomplish in the story beginning. The workbooks was INCREDIBLE. It walked me through all of it: characters, setting, stakes, themes . . . I am stunned. Wish I’d taken this way sooner.
Julie
Student
I took this having worked through the entire story design system, and I’m so impressed. I have an MFA in creative writing, and never had anything like this in school. The whole system is just brilliant, and Barbara is an engaging, wise teacher. She totally anticipated all of my stumbling blocks and I found myself skating through aspects of writing that always used to cause problems.
Sydne
Student
Barbara has a way of conveying information that takes you from the abstract into the concrete. I was hesitant to plan my story out in advance, but she’s right. When you do, everything falls into place and is much “meatier” (to use her word).
Zachary
Student
I understand my characters and my story in a way I didn’t know you could. My beginning is way better now. I do recommend going through the story system the way she has it set up. You will get a lot more out of this. You can totally take it on it’s own, but if you do the courses in order you will definitely be set of for success by the time you arrive at this one (which is much later in the system).
Alec
Student
The workbook alone is worth the price of admission.
The Greenwoods
Student
Awesome. I like this it isn’t just about the first chapter. The examples help a lot, too.
Kay
Student
Barbara Vance, PhD
I am a writer and instructor who has been blessed to help thousands of writers bring their stories to life.
My degrees include a B.A. in literature, an MA in Literature and Creative Writing, and a PhD in storytelling and media. Prior to launching my own company, I taught writing and storytelling at a tier-one university.
Over the past sixteen years I have developed a widely acclaimed collection of courses designed to help writers develop their stories, stay on track, and finish what they start . . . even while juggling busy careers and a family.
I am also the author of a multi-award-winning poetry collection, and my poems are licensed for use in anthologies and curricula around the world.
No Risk 7-day, Money-back Guarante
If you take the course and don’t feel like it helped, simply reach out to us, show us you have made an effort, and we will refund your full investment.
