For most aspiring writers, the hardest part is getting the words on paper. That’s where online writing classes come in. These courses help guide you through the process of writing a book. They allow you to translate your ideas into tangible characters, plots, and more under the expert guidance of professional teachers and writers.
A fiction writing class provides a solid foundation for writing your first book, giving you an extra confidence boost to complete your first draft. If you’re still on the fence, below, we’ll discuss the top five benefits you’ll see when you improve your fiction writing through hands-on coursework.
5 Reasons Your Book Will Benefit from a Fiction Writing Class
On average, it’s estimated that more than 440,000 fiction books are published annually. Some are published through traditional means, while others are self-published. It can be difficult to stand out from the crowd as a new author, and taking a fiction writing class is a great way to start. Here are the top five reasons your book will benefit.
1. Setting the Scene
The setting is one of the most important parts of the book, and the best fiction writing classes teach you how to set the scene from day one. You want readers to feel like they are immersed in the narrative.
It can be challenging to set the scene in a book, especially as you manage the fine details with the plot. A fiction writing class will help you strike that delicate balance.
If the book is set in the real world, you can accomplish this by using an actual city. Mirror the streets and home descriptions. Use product placements of real items or media. These small details are just enough to help a person slip into the world.
For books set in a fantasy land, fiction writing classes teach you the principles of world-building. You not only have to create new names, but you also have to create new hierarchies, cultural norms, and conventions. You have more liberty when you’re building a norm. Just make sure that you don’t violate the premises you established.
Incorrect settings can be jarring to readers, so you want to do what you can to make the setting feel real. Otherwise, they may not finish your book.
2. Stronger Character Development
Often, first-time novelists are plagued by surface character development. The book becomes so driven by the plot that the author forgets to develop its characters. Fiction writing classes combat that by allowing you to focus on your characters themselves, plotting out their motivations, flaws, and tensions.
You begin to understand what your characters are feeling and what drives them. If your character is an ex-gambling addict, you want to know what caused him to be that way, what circumstances led to his recovery, and how that detail contributes to who he is now. To do so, you can include flashbacks where you see him in a casino losing it all or the aftermath of telling his wife what happened.
When you empathize with your characters, you can define them more deeply. Fiction writing classes teach you how to transcend from surface-level characters and develop them in meaningful ways.
3. Identify Plot Holes
It’s hard to see the flaws within your narrative when you’re close to your story. It makes sense to you because you know what’s driving the plot and your characters forward. However, that’s not always apparent to your readers, and a fiction writing class can help you see flaws and plot holes within your story.
Your teacher can challenge you about why things are happening and push you beyond primary motivations. These plot holes would distract potential readers, but fiction writing classes help you catch them before they become problematic.
4. Peer Workshopping
Your writing class is a safe space to share ideas without judgment. While being vulnerable in your writing is challenging for most authors, it becomes easier with a group of like-minded individuals. Use your fiction writing class as an opportunity to get raw, unfiltered feedback.
You make revisions based on their feedback. Ask questions about your peers’ life experiences. See if they have someone you can talk with to keep learning. The more you push yourself forward, the better your writing will be. A fiction writing class provides the space to have these conversations.
5. Motivation to Finish
So many people start a novel, but they never finish it. A fiction writing class will hold you accountable for completing your book in a set time frame. It may not be perfect, but it will be complete.
Your completed novel allows you the space to go back and revise. You can keep workshopping with your peers after the time is up. Sometimes, you just need someone to hold you accountable for doing what you say you will, and a fiction writing class is a great way to force you to finish the book you always dreamed of writing.
Conclusion
Fiction writing classes provide guidance and motivation to complete your novel. You can build on the fundamentals and strengthen your character and plot development. By the end, you’ll be able to turn your story into a complete narrative you’re proud of.