Novel Track

A STORY BURNS INSIDE YOU. But what do you do? How do you get it out? The Novel Track takes you from the first quivering of an idea through every step of the writing process – from the initial sketch to the final project.

NOVEL: THE STORY

Taught by authors with distinctive voices, this is the first part of the journey. Answer the questions “What is my story? Why are character and plot inseparable? How do my characters relate to each other? What is pacing? What’s my story arc? Why is it important for my hero to have her/his own arc? What’s my theme, my genre, my style?” Answer these and other fundamental questions as you create an outline and draft key scenes in this class. Prerequisite: Creative Writing Introduction.

NOVEL: THE PLOT

This intensive lecture series will help you strengthen your understanding of story components, create tension bonds and develop dramatic scenes. Learn more about structure, character development and craftsmanship. What separates a big book from all the others? How do you incorporate those elements into your manuscript? Prerequisite: Novel: The Story.

ALL TRACKS: CHAPTERS

For those building chapters, at any point of the writing experience, in any genre, this class offers weekly deadlines and accountability while helping you brainstorm what to write next. For all students, anywhere in the creation process – a class of allies, critique partners and deadlines. Feel free to take it until you’ve completed your first draft – and again when you are working on your second/third, etc.! Prerequisite: Completion of one of the program’s three tracks.

ALL TRACKS: REVISION

You’ve completed a first draft. Where do you go from here? Revision offers hard-core analysis of structure, character and pacing while preparing you to write a stronger, cleaner draft, no matter which draft it is. This final “story” class helps you deepen what you’ve already created while giving insight to what still needs to be done. Prerequisite: All Tracks: Chapters and manuscript approval.

ALL TRACKS: POLISH

Polish covers the minutiae, details, trimming and edits that will help you perfect the words on the page – the difference between “done” and “finished.” It also includes synopsis writing, logline pitches and every step up to the query letter. Be sure your book is as good as you can make it. This class is spit and polish, not rewriting. Prerequisite: All Tracks: Revision and manuscript approval.

SMU Writer's Seminar in New York
For four days, in the extraordinary setting of an Upper East-side mansion, students will have the opportunity to live the literary life. Hear an honest and complete critique of your manuscript from publishing professionals, enjoy meals and lectures with those in the business, and learn firsthand the intricacies of the publishing world. Prerequisites: please visit smu.edu/newyork for complete prerequisite listing.

*Formula For Success:

The SMU Writer’s Seminar in New York serves as a culmination of the SMU Continuing Education Creative Writing Program, and as such, carries several prerequisites. These prerequisites help our students move from course to course within the program along pre-determined “paths” that contribute to their success and help to ensure that students gain certain skills before moving on to the next level. In addition, following these prerequisites helps to ensure the highest level of quality for the SMU Writer’s Seminar in New York applicants.

For complete program information, including program “paths,” course dates and times, and New York Seminar prerequisites, please visit www.smu.edu/creativewriting.