Writing
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- July 1, 2020
- Writing
- Outline Your Novel Now: A Sampler Course
Outline Your Novel Now: A Sampler Course
Summary
Help with outlining is just a few clicks away. In Option 1, submit four outline exercises for feedback from a professional writing coach. In Option 2, submit two additional outlines. Discover how outlines keep you inspired, organized, and writing pages. Sample a dozen outline techniques, including plot sketches, character sheets, summary sentences, and scene steps. Immediately apply your favorite techniques to your novel.
Enrollment for this course is open through June 30, 2021, but exercises must be completed by June 30, 2021. Please enroll early enough to allow time for interaction with your instructor.
Details
What the sampler approach can do for you
Help with novel outlining is just a few clicks away! Troubleshoot a novel going nowhere, jump-start that idea you’ve been meaning to write, or step up the progress you’ve already made—and write with the end in sight.
Whether you’re outlining for the first time, or looking to revamp what you’ve begun, this sampler approach provides plenty of options. Explore key outline techniques from Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method, Karen Wiesner’s “First Draft in 30 Days,” and John Truby’s “The Anatomy of Story.”
You needn’t buy any books or software to get started. Simply read through the units and keep sampling until you hit on what works best for you. Try out 3 exercises each unit, and get feedback on 1. You may find a method you love, or decide mixing and matching is the way to go—there’s no right or wrong way to outline. Take away practical tools to develop character, setting, theme, and a solid outline of your novel’s plot.
Writers preparing for novel-in-a-month challenges and retreats such as Write-by-the-Lake can use this course to help shape up their novels in short order.
How the course works
You can start this course anytime, and there are no required hours to log on. We have writers from around the world participating in our workshops. It’s all done with one-on-one correspondence with the instructor using email. A lot of great writing gets accomplished via email. You can read and print course materials in the course website, which you can access at your leisure with a password that we provide. Because of the one-on-one nature of this online course, you’ll find it an excellent coaching/mentoring situation that will keep you going. And if you want to just work on your own—hey, that’s fine too. Of course you can do the suggested exercises on your own without the feedback if you’d rather do that. We’re also here throughout the year if you have questions.
Review the current technical requirements for students in Learn@UW online courses.
Outline
Course content
Unit 1: Choose an Outline Method That Works for You
- Try out the Snowflake Method’s one-sentence summary to home in on plot essentials
- Flesh out your characters using Karen Wiesner’s character sketches
- Strengthen the core of your novel with Truby’s detailed premise steps
Unit 2: Plan Plot & Build Setting
- Use the Snowflake Method to focus a one-paragraph plot summary
- Find out how Wiesner’s setting sketches make where and when your novel takes place matter more
- Follow Truby’s “Seven Key Structure Steps” to organize your plot from beginning to end
Unit 3: Develop Character and Strengthen Plot Threads
- Get to know your characters though the Snowflake Method’s one-page character sheets
- Use Wiesner’s plot sketch to untangle and intertwine plot threads
- Weave intricate character relationships using Truby’s character web
Unit 4: Delve Into Deep Structure
- Turn your summary paragraph into a one-page plot synopsis using the Snowflake Method
- Plan out scenes with Wiesner’s summary outline
- Experiment with Truby’s moral argument system to explore the themes in your novel
Outlining provides a system to organize your thoughts, not rigid rules. Imagine never being at a loss for how to stay on task, or what to try next. You can outline at any stage—starting out, drafting or revising. You can outline at any pace—sketch out plot in a few hours or hunker down to develop character or theme. And you can outline now—get swift feedback as you discover which outline techniques keep your novel on track.
Build your novel’s structure while making creative discoveries every step of the way:
- Set out your novel’s big picture at a glance
- Keep track of plot points, subplots, and scene sequences
- Pinpoint options for your novel’s ideal beginning and end
- Eliminate the muddle of a middle
- Gain perspective on where to foreshadow, plant clues, or introduce twists
- Spot mistakes early on to reduce revision time
- Bring all plot threads together in just a page or 2—and identify what to keep or cut
- Develop plot and character simultaneously
- Deepen your novel’s themes
The techniques in the course help you create an outline you can rely on—one as basic or detailed as you like. Get the direction and creative freedom you need to write a novel you can finish.
Help with outlining is just a few clicks away. In Option 1, submit four outline exercises for feedback from a professional writing coach. In Option 2, submit two additional outlines. Discover how outlines keep you inspired, organized, and writing pages. Sample a dozen outline techniques, including plot sketches, character sheets, summary sentences, and scene steps. Immediately apply your favorite techniques to your novel.
Enrollment for this course is open through June 30, 2021, but exercises must be completed by June 30, 2021. Please enroll early enough to allow time for interaction with your instructor.
Details
Details
What the sampler approach can do for you
Help with novel outlining is just a few clicks away! Troubleshoot a novel going nowhere, jump-start that idea you’ve been meaning to write, or step up the progress you’ve already made—and write with the end in sight.
Whether you’re outlining for the first time, or looking to revamp what you’ve begun, this sampler approach provides plenty of options. Explore key outline techniques from Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method, Karen Wiesner’s “First Draft in 30 Days,” and John Truby’s “The Anatomy of Story.”
You needn’t buy any books or software to get started. Simply read through the units and keep sampling until you hit on what works best for you. Try out 3 exercises each unit, and get feedback on 1. You may find a method you love, or decide mixing and matching is the way to go—there’s no right or wrong way to outline. Take away practical tools to develop character, setting, theme, and a solid outline of your novel’s plot.
Writers preparing for novel-in-a-month challenges and retreats such as Write-by-the-Lake can use this course to help shape up their novels in short order.
How the course works
You can start this course anytime, and there are no required hours to log on. We have writers from around the world participating in our workshops. It’s all done with one-on-one correspondence with the instructor using email. A lot of great writing gets accomplished via email. You can read and print course materials in the course website, which you can access at your leisure with a password that we provide. Because of the one-on-one nature of this online course, you’ll find it an excellent coaching/mentoring situation that will keep you going. And if you want to just work on your own—hey, that’s fine too. Of course you can do the suggested exercises on your own without the feedback if you’d rather do that. We’re also here throughout the year if you have questions.
Review the current technical requirements for students in Learn@UW online courses.
Outline
Course content
Unit 1: Choose an Outline Method That Works for You
- Try out the Snowflake Method’s one-sentence summary to home in on plot essentials
- Flesh out your characters using Karen Wiesner’s character sketches
- Strengthen the core of your novel with Truby’s detailed premise steps
Unit 2: Plan Plot & Build Setting
- Use the Snowflake Method to focus a one-paragraph plot summary
- Find out how Wiesner’s setting sketches make where and when your novel takes place matter more
- Follow Truby’s “Seven Key Structure Steps” to organize your plot from beginning to end
Unit 3: Develop Character and Strengthen Plot Threads
- Get to know your characters though the Snowflake Method’s one-page character sheets
- Use Wiesner’s plot sketch to untangle and intertwine plot threads
- Weave intricate character relationships using Truby’s character web
Unit 4: Delve Into Deep Structure
- Turn your summary paragraph into a one-page plot synopsis using the Snowflake Method
- Plan out scenes with Wiesner’s summary outline
- Experiment with Truby’s moral argument system to explore the themes in your novel
Outlining provides a system to organize your thoughts, not rigid rules. Imagine never being at a loss for how to stay on task, or what to try next. You can outline at any stage—starting out, drafting or revising. You can outline at any pace—sketch out plot in a few hours or hunker down to develop character or theme. And you can outline now—get swift feedback as you discover which outline techniques keep your novel on track.
Build your novel’s structure while making creative discoveries every step of the way:
- Set out your novel’s big picture at a glance
- Keep track of plot points, subplots, and scene sequences
- Pinpoint options for your novel’s ideal beginning and end
- Eliminate the muddle of a middle
- Gain perspective on where to foreshadow, plant clues, or introduce twists
- Spot mistakes early on to reduce revision time
- Bring all plot threads together in just a page or 2—and identify what to keep or cut
- Develop plot and character simultaneously
- Deepen your novel’s themes
The techniques in the course help you create an outline you can rely on—one as basic or detailed as you like. Get the direction and creative freedom you need to write a novel you can finish.
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Continuing Education Hours
10
Continuing Education Units, CEU
1
Upcoming Dates
All times shown are central time.
Register by phone: 608-262-2451
Register by mail: printable registration form
Schedule
Start anytime
Instructor(s)
Fee
Option 1: 10 CE Hours $175; Option 2: 20 CE Hours $195
Location
Complete online
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Questions?
Registration:Questions about this program:
- Christine DeSmet
- christine.desmet@wisc.edu
Cancellation Policy:
Our cancellation policy varies by type of program. View our policies page for more details about cancelling a program.
Accessibility Accommodations:
Please email the contact person listed above at least 2-3 weeks prior to the start of class if you require an accessibility accommodation.
ANGELA RYDELL
ANGELA RYDELL (MFA, Warren Wilson College) has been a writing coach and instructor for Continuing Studies since 2006. She's a recipient of the Poets & Writers' Writers Exchange Award and a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her fiction and poetry have been published in many journals.
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Keep up to date about Writing offerings at Continuing Studies. You'll receive upcoming announcements and information related to Writing.
Upcoming Dates
All times shown are central time.
Online, start anytime
9058-21-LSA
Register by phone: 608-262-2451
Register by mail: printable registration form
Schedule
Start anytime
Add to CalendarInstructor(s)
ANGELA RYDELL
ANGELA RYDELL (MFA, Warren Wilson College) has been a writing coach and instructor for Continuing Studies since 2006. She's a recipient of the Poets & Writers' Writers Exchange Award and a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her fiction and poetry have been published in many journals.
Fee
Option 1: 10 CE Hours $175; Option 2: 20 CE Hours $195
Location
Complete online
Earn Credit Hours
By participating in this class you will earn:
Continuing Education Hours
10
Continuing Education Units, CEU
1
Questions?
Registration:Questions about this program:
- Christine DeSmet
- christine.desmet@wisc.edu
Cancellation Policy:
Our cancellation policy varies by type of program. View our policies page for more details about cancelling a program.
Accessibility Accommodations:
Please email the contact person listed above at least 2-3 weeks prior to the start of class if you require an accessibility accommodation.
- Christine DeSmet
- christine.desmet@wisc.edu
Cancellation Policy:
Our cancellation policy varies by type of program. View our policies page for more details about cancelling a program.
Have Questions?
We have collected answers to common questions in our
FAQs.
You can also contact Customer Service at or
608-262-1156.
Continuing Studies FAQs
Previous Class
9058-20-LSA
Schedule
Start anytime
Instructor(s)
ANGELA RYDELL
Location
Complete online