Course objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the difference between plot and narrative.
• Name four types of narration on the stream of consciousness to omniscience continuum.
• Understand how style, timing, and worldbuilding build on basic narrative templates.
• Explain five ways to tell a character-driven narrative.
• Evaluate how many characters you need for a particular story.
• Describe the concept of authorial voice.
• Explain the concept of narrative resonance.
• Understand the difference between audience and authenticity.
• Articulate what “desire” is in a narrative context.
• Analyze a work for symbols and metaphors.
• Write a piece of prose that uses an extended metaphor.
• Understand how to incorporate your own experience into a narrative.
• Expand on the concept of “show, don’t tell,” including contexts where telling may be preferred.
• Provide examples of narrative filtering.
• Explain what a “kenning” is and how it can be used to create vivid descriptions.
• Consistently render emotionally resonant narratives.