Using Story Arcs to Craft Gripping Narratives

Live attendance is not required: enrollees can watch the recording at any time after the workshop!

When writing fiction, it can be all too easy to get caught up in clever characterization, interesting motifs, intricate settings, and so on, while losing sight of what your story is actually supposed to be doing. What’s the journey you’re taking your reader on? How are you raising and lowering tension to carry the reader through to the ultimate climax? Does the climax of your story offer the reader a meaningful epiphany that is satisfying, believable, and poignant?

These questions are all part of how your story arc is shaped. And if you haven’t sat down to plan out your story arc, then you’re leaving these important elements of an effective story unaddressed!

All of literature’s most popular stories are carefully structured around a planned-out story arc. Story arcs come in a lot of shapes, but each one is a type of formula that follows familiar beats, which the best storytellers use to their advantage. By taking a step back and carefully crafting your own arc, you can be sure your story follows a tried-and-true way of creating a gripping narrative used by writers and storytellers across centuries.

Join creative writing teacher Ross Turner in this in-depth workshop on how to develop, plan, and perfect your story’s arc. Using a wide variety of examples, you’ll learn how some of the finest writers have used story arcs to deliver well-paced journeys that lead to satisfying conclusions. Ross will show you how to work through your story’s exposition on to the interruption of stasis, before considering the rising action and building towards a satisfying climax. You’ll also learn how to tip over into the often under-utilized story arc aspects of falling action and resolution.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll be armed with the tools and knowledge used by generations of storytellers to craft satisfying stories. You’ll have the confidence and ability to build effective story arcs to structure all of your narratives — whether it’s a story you have in progress, or a new idea; whether it’s a novel or a short story.

Some of Ross’s career highlights

Zoom schedule

Everyone enrolled in this webinar will receive a copy of the recording afterwards, so you can review it later in case you missed it.

• Saturday July 27, 2024 1:00pm US Central time — 2 hours

How this workshop works

This workshop is a live Zoom webinar. Sign in from anywhere in the world and participate live as the instructor conducts the workshop, with time for Q&A at the end.

Student praise for Ross Turner

Ross has been such a big help. It was wonderful working with someone who was enthusiastic and genuinely cared about the quality of my work.

—Courtney

I thoroughly enjoyed learning from Prof. Ross. In a short amount of time, he went above and beyond to cater to my needs, revisiting my queries repeatedly, which I especially appreciate. He was sincere and reassuring, qualities I admire in a teacher. Highly recommended!

—Angela

Returning to education after quite some years, I soon became aware my approach to academic writing was lacking. Ross's professional, patient, enthusiastic and client-specific approach, is invaluable in understanding how to prepare, structure and complete my work, utilising grammar, in a succinct fashion. My weekly sessions with Ross have boosted my understanding, confidence and skill set. Altogether an experience I have found very helpful and highly recommend.

—Jim

Ross has been of invaluable help to me with my Creative Writing MA. From laying out academic essays to fine-tuning and perfecting my creative pieces, Ross has been an incredible support. He's professional, friendly, and I thoroughly recommend him.

—Rebecca

Ross takes pride in what he does and gives the most constructive, helpful, and supportive feedback. He has helped me immensely in my writing ability and confidence. Ross spends numerous hours looking thoroughly through your work, and provides insightful and informative sessions to discuss the feedback, and is always available and contactable for further help. I couldn't recommend Ross enough, he has been so supportive in my academic writing. Thank you Ross.

—Jessica

Ross is outstanding. Professional, efficient and has a brilliant way with explaining complex writing and grammar issues in a clear and simple way.

—Alice

Ross has been incredibly helpful and professional. I asked for his help because even though I am a published author, I have been suffering from writer's block for several years. After a couple of weeks of tutoring my confidence has been restored and I am writing again. I highly recommend him.

—Judy

Ross has guided me in my ambition to write my first novel. It is a work in progress and he continues to help me as I develop my style and creative skills. He has a natural ability to impart knowledge and his enthusiasm and obvious love of language translates easily into increased confidence and motivation in his student.

—Deborah

Questions about this class?

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have!

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About Ross Turner

Ross Turner works as a creative and critical writer, editor, and private tutor. He is currently completing his practice-led creative writing PhD at York St John University, with a focus on short story cycles. Previously, he attended the University of Gloucestershire, and achieved his BA (Hons) in Creative Writing, for which he was awarded the Francis Close Hall Creative Writing Prize for the highest dissertation mark, and his MA in Creative and Critical Writing, for which he was awarded a postgraduate bursary from the UoG Annual Fund for Excellence, and the Tutors’ Prize for outstanding academic achievement, achieving the highest aggregate mark on the course.

Ross continues to publish creative, critical, and academic work. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Superlative—The Literary Journal, which published quality, innovative work by emerging short story writers, in order to promote new, developing authors and the art of the short story to readers worldwide.

He is a professional member of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), where he attends regular writing conferences and has access to the latest writing in education materials. He enjoys educating, guest lectures on creative writing courses at colleges and universities, and has numerous education and training qualifications.

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