Novel Builder: The Murky Middle (Online)

Class Description

Listen, we’ve all been there: you’re humming along, hitting all your word count goals, developing your characters, and then suddenly, you run out of gas. Maybe you have too many narrative threads and they're all getting tangled, maybe you're so caught up in backstory that you can't remember what your present storyline is, maybe you just have no idea what happens next...whatever the case, you're not alone. There’s a reason they call it the murky middle! In this class, we’ll find our way out of the novel writing doldrums the only way there is: by writing our way out, scene by scene. Each week, we’ll explore a type of scene that is specific to the middle of the novel and pair that scene with a craft concept––like momentum, time, tension and stakes––that will help us write our way into it (and out of it). We will look at examples from contemporary novels to see how other novelists have dealt with their own murky middles, and engage in exercises to help get unstuck and get writing again.

Because this is a generative class, you will write and submit one scene per week. You will also have the opportunity to workshop 1-2 scenes throughout the course of the class. At the end of class, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss your project as a whole, and where to go from here, with the instructor.

You will leave this class with six new scenes, and the momentum, guidance, and craft skills to keep writing toward the end of your draft.

**This class is part of the Novel Builder Online series. Other options include Novel Builder: the Murky Middle, and Novel Builder: Endings.

*NOTE that while our handy dandy "Schedule" tab states a 6-7pm class time, there are actually no live meetings for this class! Weekly lessons and assignments open each Wednesday. Students will receive an invitation to Wet Ink, our online class platform, before 5pm on the first day of class.

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.