Humanities

Creative Writing Tips to Hook Readers

68 CQ
10 Lessons
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    6 CQ
    1. How to Structure a Story
    A lesson with T. P. Jagger
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    This lesson goes beyond the idea that a story merely consists of a beginning, middle, and an end, looking at the five basic elements of the narrative arc.

    This lesson goes beyond the idea that a story merely consists of a beginning, middle, and an end, looking at the five basic elements of the narrative arc.

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    9 CQ
    2. Writing Openings & Point of View
    A lesson with T. P. Jagger
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    This lesson looks at ways you can hook your readers with your story's opening lines and explores the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.

    This lesson looks at ways you can hook your readers with your story's opening lines and explores the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view.

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    6 CQ
    3. Writing in Past vs. Present Tense
    A lesson with T. P. Jagger
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    This writing lesson explores the advantages and disadvantages of past tense and present tense, helping determine which tense may work best for your story.

    This writing lesson explores the advantages and disadvantages of past tense and present tense, helping determine which tense may work best for your story.

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    6 CQ
    4. Powering Your Story's Plot
    A lesson with T. P. Jagger
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    This creative writing lesson provides tips for using conflict and suspense to inject tension into your story, powering the plot from beginning to end.

    This creative writing lesson provides tips for using conflict and suspense to inject tension into your story, powering the plot from beginning to end.

  • Playing
    7 CQ
    5. How to End a Story
    A lesson with T. P. Jagger
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    This lesson explores different types of story endings, providing tips for writing effective endings that both satisfy and surprise your readers.

    This lesson explores different types of story endings, providing tips for writing effective endings that both satisfy and surprise your readers.

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20 Comments
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travar l
man you are the best
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Alan O
Great lesson for beginner storytelling. Well explained, easy to follow. I started my curious journey here. And I love the quote "You don't have a story until something goes wrong" Well, that's life, isn't it... :)
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Ashley O
This is great definitely I’m going to use these lessons. Great video
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Zosia S
That was very helpful! Thank you. I loved how prepared you were for the shooting of this video :) No „uhmmmms”, „but uhmmmms” and so on. Loved it!
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Robby S
This was amazingly helpful towards the novel I am beginning to write. I also am writing a memoir book comprised of a collection of essays. Do you know of any sources I can review to further my knowledge of memoir writing in essay format?
T. P. Jagger
Robby, I'm glad you found the lesson useful. For memoirs, that's a genre I've never really explored in my own writing. However, I have two recommendations: 1) Read plenty of essay-based memoirs that you can dissect, seeing what writing-craft insights you can gain for incorporation in your own, similar writing. 2) Keep in mind the structure of story, applying it to your memoir. Each essay can have its own, mini-story, and the essays can build a larger story arc, as well. Happy writing!
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