NOVEMBER ONLINE WORKSHOP

2011-10-19T23:59:00.000-05:00

CONFLICT MAKES THE STORY

DATES: NOVEMBER 1 – 30, 2011

INSTRUCTOR: CHERYLST.JOHN

REDUCED ENROLLMENTFEE: $20.

(a savings of$10.)

REGISTRATIONVIA PAYPAL

REGISTRATIONOPEN NOW

Only a little over two months left of 2011! Did youaccomplish everything you wanted to over the year? Writing improvementchallenges? A new story proposal? A finished project? Here’s an opportunity tosharpen your skills and be prepared for those new goals, which are right aroundthe corner.

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

No matter what writing topicCheryl addresses, she hangs the most importance on characters. Conflict isdrawn from characters. It’s based on their goals, their backstory and theirmotivation. It is opposing forces that come from within the charactersthemselves.

Webster’s Dictionary definesconflict as “the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to thedramatic action in a drama or fiction.” This definition is the essence offiction, and we need to keep it in mind as we develop characters and plots. Ifthere’s no conflict, there’s no story.

Conflict, of course, can beeither light or heavy. In a humorous story, the problem may not be lifethreatening, but it still must be important to the characters. The characters’motivations must be equally important to them. In suspense, the conflict isoften life-threatening. All well-developed plots stem from creative use ofconflict, and conflict is what keeps the reader turning pages.

In order to understand conflict and how to develop it, wemust first understand what conflict is, what conflict is not, and what conflictcan be. The elements that make up a story are so closely meshed that at timesit becomes difficult to dissect and make a firm delineation between them. In amasterfully developed story, characterization, plotting, and conflict are allintricately entwined.

Cheryl will explain opposing goals and how to createconflict that will sustain a story. She’ll give practical advice on:

Motivating characters
Creating characters with built-in conflict
Revealing emotion through conflict
Internal and external conflict
Simple and complex conflict

INSTUCTOR BIO:

Among her achievements, which include forty published booksin both contemporary and historical genres, Cheryl St.John has receivedmultiple Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and four RITA nominations. Indescribing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewersuse words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believablecharacters and real life situations.” She has taught writing on local andnational levels, and is in demand as a motivational speaker.

FORMAT:

The class will be conducted via subscription to a privateyahoogroup, two lessons per week, followed by questions and answers. Briefexercises pertaining to the participant’s current work in progress may beincluded. Archived class will be available for one week after the ending date.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

"Cheryl has the unique ability to bringthings to the forefront that can help any writer, be it someone who's juststarting out or a multi-published author. I found her class on how to addconflict to a story extremely beneficial. I urge anyone who wants to learn towrite better to take her class."

- Linda Broday, A Texas Christmas, NYT Best Seller

“Cheryl St.John's course on setting rocks! Even after thirtypublished books, I gained valuable knowledge that I'll definitely use to makefuture books even better.”

- CindyKirk, If the Ring Fits, SSE 9/11

“CherylSt.John's conflict course is a must for all writers - new or experienced. Aftertaking Cheryl's class as an aspiring author, I revised my manuscript toadd critical depth to the story—and it sold! Through examples andhands-on exercises, Cheryl demonstrates the techniques of good storytelling.”

- Sherri Shackelford, Winning the Widow's Heart

June 2012, Harlequin Love Inspired Historical

Cheryl St.John's Online Workshop

NOVEMBER ONLINE WORKSHOP

CONFLICT MAKES THE STORY