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FICTION WRITING 5: Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel (HS 11-5)
Recorded course taught by Grace McCluskey, Daniel Massett for High School 11 Series: Fiction Writing & Literary Form (Creative Writing)
Summary

 Learn how conflict is at the heart of every great story -- and 
create riveting storylines in your own writing…

Instructor Access (optional grading support) is available for Unlimited Access or Single Access.
See the sidebar to the left for signup information! Scroll down to read the biography of each instructor. 

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NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings. We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings.  Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions.

How to get the most out of the Fiction Writing 5: Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel course with Professor Erin M. Brown (AKA Erin Brown Conroy/E.B. Conroy):

  • First, read the course details below and prepare a notebook for note taking and homework.

  • Students begin the course by clicking on the "Recording" and watching Professor Brown Conroy’s lecture for Class One.

  • Review any supplemental materials (videos or readings).

  • Complete the Assignment(s), and give the assignments to your parent for grading. Please note: Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

  • If you need to review the information, go back and watch the recording again and/or go over the PowerPoint.

  • Repeat this process until all four classes are complete.

  • Once the course is completed to the parent's satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

  • Be sure to access and take the next course in this series, Authoring a Book, Part 1: How it Works, What it Takes, and How to Succeed.

Please Note: There are eight (8) courses in the Write Your Own Fiction Book series. Students can jump into the series at any time. Students are also encouraged to take The Hero's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (1 & 2) and Screenwriting (1 & 2), which may be taken at the same time as the four-week courses.

Each of the four-week courses presents critical information regarding the key elements of fiction writing. All eight courses are designed to give you the skills to write your own book and have a solid foundation for story and form, for college literature courses.

Total Classes: 4

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Prerequisites can be taken either "live" or through Unlimited Access. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.

Suggested Grade Level: 11th grade; however, this course can be taken at any grade level in high school
Suggested Credit: One-third (1/3) of a semester's credit for Creative Writing. For full semester credit, add other fiction-writing courses.

Take this course with HS 11-4 (Theme, Style, and Point of View) and HS 11-7 (Writing the Short Story) for a full semester of credit (12 weeks).

Instructor: Erin M Brown (AKA Erin Brown Conroy/E.B. Conroy), M.A, M.F.A.

Course Description: This course teaches the key components of creating conflict that gives us the breakout novel. The course will also center on how to implement the Christian worldview into your conflict.

Course Outline:

  • Class 1: What makes a great novel and “stakes” (personal and universal)

  • Class 2: Conflict in the setting, characters, and plot

  • Class 3: Playing the “what if” game: making your character do the unthinkable

  • Class 4: Cliffhangers, self-sacrifice, and turning points

Course Materials: All materials are provided FREE via the instructor.

Homework: LIVE and Instructor Access students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work). Expect an estimated two (2) to four (4) hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability; homework includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.

©2017-2024 Homeschool Connections and Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA (aka author Erin Brown Conroy/E. B. Conroy) All rights reserved.

This course is designed by Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA.

  • This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.

  • You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.

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Technical Help: If you experience technical difficulty with watching the recorded classes or have a question about course content, please email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

  

 

Course name
FICTION WRITING 5: Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel (HS 11-5)
Instructors
Grace McCluskey, Daniel Massett
Semester
Recorded
Category
Writing ➤ 11 Series: Fiction Writing & Literary Form (Creative Writing)
Grade level
High School
Editors
Aubrey Heki, Sharon Hamric-Weis, Bonnie Donlon, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA, Donna Graziose
Start time
February 9th, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET
Course type
Recorded, free with subscription
Relative due dates
Relative due dates are disabled for this course.

About Ms. McCluskey

Grace Anne McCluskey earned her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and Christian Counseling at  Liberty University and attended the Act One Screenwriting and Producing Program in Hollywood led by  Barbara Nicolosi. Fun Fact: Grace Anne is a former Homeschool Connections student herself, completing most all the Aquinas Writing Advantage courses (academic and fiction writing) before attending university and authoring The Winter Elf, a children’s fiction book for ages 8-12, published by Morgan James  Publishing. The Winter Elf is more than a fantasy story (though it is thoroughly enjoyed by fantasy readers everywhere); it is also used in therapeutic practices to proactively guide families through the healthy processing of trauma.  

Grace Anne was trained as a behavioral therapist in Yorktown, Virginia, and when not writing or teaching,  she works with implementing proven strategies to help children with autism build their behavioral, social,  and academic skills—uplifting and transforming students’ abilities and confidence. Grace Anne loves helping young writers build their craft and looks forward to coaching young writers as she was guided to excellence in writing and publication. Currently living in the Ozark foothills of Missouri, she is an Instructor  Access grader for Homeschool Connections’ 11-Series fiction courses. 

Daniel Massett, MFA, a professional writer who has published several short stories and a children's fantasy novel.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Le Moyne College and a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing from Miami University, and his experience in the classroom includes teaching high school literature at Classical charter schools and Catholic schools, as well as teaching research-driven writing and creative writing at Miami University.

Mr. Massett is a strong believer in grounding writers in the love of the Scriptures, great literary traditions, and the Catholic Tradition, and his passion is to help students express beauty in their writing to, as the Psalmist says, "be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.”

Thrilled to be at AWA to help young writers hone their craft and achieve their fullest potential, Mr. Massett is an Instructor Access grading instructor for the Fiction Writing courses.

Mr. Massett lives in Pennsylvania with his family, where he writes in multiple genres (realism, fantasy, sci-fi, dystopia, western, and magical realism) and is currently writing a literary fiction novel.