Special Note:

Welcome To GrubStreet's New & Improved Website!—Wondering what's new? Having trouble logging in? Need to report a technical issue? Read important info about our brand new website.

Read More mdi-close
Skip to Content

Welcome!

If this is your first time on our new site, please !

Log-In

Forgot your password?

Don't have a Grub profile?

Enter your email and we'll send you directions on setting (or resetting) your password.

Submit

Wait, I remembered! Let me .

Enter your your details to create a new account. To finish activating your account, please check your email for an activation link before you log-in.

Create your account here. Later you can fill out your full profile.

Sign-Up

Nevermind. I just need to .

  • Seminar
  • Online: Zoom
  • Adult (18+)

Novel Revision Series: Killer Openings

No Longer Enrolling

  • $85.00 Non-Member
  • $75.00 Member

Class Description

A compelling, carefully crafted opening is absolutely critical for any successful novel. It’s what editors and agents, not to mention average readers, will use to decide whether or not to read on. In this text-oriented seminar, we’ll break down the opening of numerous great classic and contemporary and novels in order to arrive at a more precise and nuanced understanding of how openings work, what they must achieve, and various methods that may be used to “hook” readers, including a few that you may not have considered. In a series of brief writing exercises, we’ll have a chance to apply what we’ve learned to our own works in progress. Students are asked to bring in the first several pages of a novel they admire, and, optionally, the first several pages of their own novel drafts to use in revision exercises.

Also see, "Novel Revision Series: Symphonic Endings," scheduled for Friday, June 2nd, 10:30am-1:30pm.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

Scholarships Format/Location

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Zoom Participation:

Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.

Zoom Accessibility:

We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!