Film Structure and Fiction: A New Approach to Plotting Narrative

This class takes place via Zoom on Wed, Sept 22, 29 & Oct 6, from 6:30-8pm with instructor Samantha Talley.
Yearning to start a novel but overwhelmed by plotting the action? Mired in the middle of your story and no way out in sight? Sometimes a different medium holds the answers to our creative problems. In this generative class, we’ll explore how the structure of films can enhance our fiction, whether novels or short stories. We’ll analyze how to use plot points (“doorways of no return”), midpoints, inciting incidents, and pinches to build solid narratives that bolster our characters and themes. Bring either a project you’ve been struggling with or a new idea whose plot remains a mystery.
Samantha Talley obtained her M.F.A. from the University of Tampa, where she received the Outstanding Student Award, and her Master’s in Teaching from Trinity University. One of her stories was chosen as a Top 10 Finalist (out of 600 entries) for the Screen Craft Short Story Contest. Another story received Special Recognition for AWP’s Kurt Brown Prize. She has attended the New York State Summer Writers Institute and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference.