The BWW Curriculum currently consists of 6 classes: 3 foundational classes, and 3 deep dive classes. The focus in all classes is on learning concrete techniques that you can use in your own writing and on examples from the genres that students in the class are writing in.

The 3 foundational classes are best as a series, but you can also pick and choose. Foundational classes meet twice.

The 3 deep dives can be taken individually and at any time, but you’ll get the most out of them if you have a strong writing foundation underlying them. Deep dive classes meet 4 times. 

Classes are held over zoom.

Classes are scheduling for 2026. Let me know if you’re interested in an upcoming class by dropping me a line here and I will let you know when the class is next scheduled.

BASICS – A Foundational Bootcamp Series for Fiction Writers – Three two-session classes (can enroll as a series or individually)

Finding Your Story

In this class we’ll cover:

• • What is a story? What makes the story feel like it matters, makes it feel like a story, like something is happening?
  • The difference between Plot vs. Story
  • Idea generation – where do stories come from?
  • Finding your main character
  • To plot or not
  • Forward Momentum and how to maintain it

The Elements of Story – an overview of the basic technical decisions you make as you tell any story

In this class we’ll cover:

• • Genre – What kind of story are you writing? Characteristics of each genre.
  • POV – whose story is it?
  • Person
  • Tense
  • Stylistic stance – commercial to literary spectrum
  • Structure – do you really need a three act structure?

Basic Building Blocks/Techniques of StoryTelling

In this class we’ll cover:

• • Scenes vs. things which are not scenes
  • Exposition, backstory, flashbacks, and their role vs. the present day/main narrative/story
  • Direct dialogue vs. indirect dialogue vs. summary
  • Scope, transitions, elision of time
  • Interiority vs. narrative
  • How they all fit together
  • Basics of prose techniques

DEEP DIVES – TOPICS FOR ADVANCING WRITERS – four-session classes

Everything You Wanted to Know About Interiority, a 4-week class – upcoming at Metro West Writers’ Guild, October 2025

Being able to reflect your character’s interiority is a crucial skill in making that character feel believable and alive. It allows the reader feel they’re with the character personally rather than watching from a distance, but…

• • What exactly is interiority? And what isn’t interiority?
  • Why do we need it and what does it accomplish?
  • When should we use it?
  • How much should there be?

In this class, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the different types of interiority and the many techniques and methods to achieve it, including looking at examples from authors in a variety of genres. We’ll also discuss interiority in relation to point of view and authorial voice. Finally, we’ll have a chance to try some of these techniques out in exercises and discuss them in class.

Character Deep Dive

In this class we’ll cover:

• • What is a protagonist?
  • Protagonist vs. main character
  • Protagonist vs. narrator
  • Character agency vs. passivity
  • Character realism spectrum – from allegory to psychological realism
  • Interiority and voice
  • Character backstory

POV and Narrative Voice

A deep dive into perspective and narrative voice. Going beyond the basic definitions and understanding the myriad of subtleties available to choose from and making the most effective decision for your story. In this class we’ll cover:

• • The difference between POV character and narrator
  • The difference between POV and voice
  • A deep dive into each narrative perspective
  • Understanding the difference between third person and omniscient
  • Specialty narrators