Syllabus for 12 Weeks:

We'll be going deep into the 10 Key Scenes that are foundational for almost every great commercially successful novel.

Note: We are not going to examine the scenes in order!

This means you need to first get your 10 Key Scene chart locked in before getting too far in the course. You will need to be able to work on your scenes out of order, and while you may (no doubt) later rewrite them as your whole novel tightens, you should be able to accomplish the purpose you set out to do for that particular scene and include the elements that will make it work beautifully.

Week 1: September 6

Live Zoom lecture 1 p.m. Pacific Time (will be recorded and posted on the week's module, so no worries if you can't attend).

Week 1 is all about preparing to write your 10 key scenes. Work on and fill out completely your 10 key scene chart and 5 turning points. Watch the first 3 modules in the video course The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel: Introduction, The 5 Turning Points, and The Setup.

During your first week you will write your key scene #1 - your setup scene. You'll need to turn in that scene by the next Monday, Sept. 13th. You will then also grab the two scenes from other writers in your group that you're assigned to critique at that time. But this first week there will be NO critiquing. You can submit your first scene anytime during the week of Sept. 6th. During this week you'll also read the sample scenes and handouts assigned to help you write a great setup scene.

Week 2: September 13:

Week 2 you will learn all about your key scene #2 - the Inciting Incident. Lecture Monday will get your prepped to work on your key scene #2. Write your scene this week and turn in by the next Monday. Watch the video module "Opportunity - Key Scene #2" in the video course The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel and read the sample scenes and worksheets. Be sure to grab the two scenes you are assigned to critique as soon as possible. You'll have this whole week to critique, then send the critiques back to the writers by Sunday noon Pacific. Put this schedule on your calendar! REMEMBER: you will be critiquing Key Scene #1 - Setup Scene (that was turned in by Monday). So each week, as you're learning about a new key scene, you'll be critiquing the prior week's scenes that have been submitted at the end of the prior week.

Week 3: September 20:

Week 3 you'll learn all about the Midpoint - key scene #5. You'll have lecture Monday and follow the same schedule. Read sample scenes, watch the module in The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel on the Midpoint - Key Scene #5. Submit your midpoint scene by the next Monday at noon Pacific. While you are working on writing your midpoint scene, you'll be critiquing the two scenes you're assigned that your writing cohorts submitted as their key scene #2 Inciting Incident. Each week you will be writing your scene for the current key scene but critiquing based on the prior week's lessons.

Week 4: September 27:

Week 4 you'll be writing your first major twist, which is Key Scene #4 (37-42% mark). This key event in your novel makes the way for the Midpoint. Lecture Monday evening, then grab the two scenes from last week (midpoint) that you'll need to critique. Send those scenes back by Sunday and turn in your Twist #1 scene (key scene 4) by the next Monday. Watch the module Twists and Turns - Key Scenes 4 and 7 in the course The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel. Study the Twist handout found in your Resources: Worksheets module.

Week 5: October 4:

Week 5 is your second big twist that pushes your character into the Dark Night Moment. Twist #2 is Key Scene #7. Work on your twist this week as you critique the two scenes assigned for Twist #1.

Week 6: October 11:

Week 6 you'll be writing your Key Scene #8 - The Dark Night Moment. During the week, you'll be critiquing the scenes assigned that showcase Twist #2. Watch the video module The Dark Night Moment - Key Scene #8 in the course The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel. Be sure to turn in your critiques to writers on Sunday and get your Dark Night Scene turned in by the next Monday!

Week 7: October 18:

Week 7 introduces pinch points. You'll be writing your first pinch point scene, Key Scene #3 (around the 33% mark). Critique the two Dark Night Moment scenes you're assigned, and watch the video module on Pinch Points - Key Scenes #3 and #6 in the course The 10 Key Scenes That Frame Up Your Novel.

Week 8: October 25:

Week 8 you'll nail your second pinch point, Key Scene #6 (around the 62% mark). Write that scene and critique the first pinch point scenes you're assigned.

Week 9: November 1:

Week 9 you'll be learning about and writing your big Climax scene: Key Scene #9. While this scene may comprise two or three scenes, you'll work on the big moment when your character's goal is reached (or failed). You'll be critiquing two writers' second pinch point scenes that week.

Week 10: November 8:

Week 10: you've arrived! This week you'll be writing your final Resolution scene--Key Scene #10. As you work on that, you'll be critiquing your partners' Climax scenes. This will be the last week of writing and turning in a scene.

Week 11: November 15:

This week we'll discuss the big picture of all 10 key scenes, and in the lecture many of the students' scenes will be shared and discussed (or passages from those scenes). You'll still need to critique this week--the two Resolution scenes assigned to you. Be sure to turn those in to the writers by Sunday noon Pacific. Now's the time to think what questions you want to send in to have covered in our last session in week 12.

Week 12: November 22:

Wrap-up! We'll go over more students' scenes, discuss what you've learned, answer final questions, and--most important--discuss how to move forward with the next layer of scenes you need to write. You will now have your foundation well in hand, and from there, you're ready to work in all the next scenes in your novel.