This class will help you grow the seed of your story into what it naturally needs to be and avoid the danger of trying to fit it too neatly into any formula or prescribed structure. Whether you’re starting with a character, a theme, an overall concept, or a mini scene, we’ll use principles from John Truby’s Anatomy of Story to turn that first spark into the framework for a whole novel by organically drawing out the elements in your initial idea. Come prepared to dive in and get some work done in this workshop-style class!

From your opening line, to creating your main character, and ending with cliffhanger ending, we’ll go over all the key steps to writing a killer first chapter.

Every adventure relies on the three key parts of a story: character, world building, and plot. Once you understand why they're necessary, and how they build on each other, you can unlock story experiences that entice, entrance, and excite readers from beginning to end. 

In this 25-minute class, we'll explore the fundamental elements that make stories unforgettable: character, conflict, plot, setting, and theme. We'll dive into how your characters drive the narrative and how conflict serves as the engine of your story. The importance of a cohesive plot will be discussed, showing how it weaves the threads of conflict and character arcs. Additionally, we'll examine how the setting grounds the story and enhances the atmosphere. Finally, we'll discuss how a theme can subtly add deeper meaning to your storytelling.

Want to find motivation to write? Only 20 minutes and a timer will help you tackle the writer’s block and self-doubt. This class will give you tools to help you create and stay focused. Writing takes practice and these simple exercises can help strengthen your author muscle.

As a character driven writer, Yamile will teach you how to plan a plot around your main character.