All Pennwriters Courses are conducted in a “live” presentation format utilizing the Zoom platform. If a conflict arises based on the required meeting times, please contact the instructor and Online Courses Coordinator to find a possible solution. ALL sessions will be recorded
PLEASE NOTE: You should receive a confirmation email upon registering for the course from both Club Express and the Online Classes Coordinator. If you do not receive either emails, please reach out to the Online Classes Coordinator immediately so you do not miss out on information for your class.
Summary:
This four-week online course explores the expectations and anticipations of three major fiction genres: speculative (science fiction/fantasy/horror), romance, and mystery/thriller. participants will engage in on-demand lectures, in-class exercises, and live workshop sessions. The course begins with an introductory week focused on general writing principles and genre exploration with in-class writing exercises, followed by three weeks of genre-specific workshops. Each participant will craft two original premises and provide critiques for two others, resulting in a collaborative and intensive learning experience.
Format:
- Weekly live zoom critique sessions of participants’ genre-specific premises.
- The week prior to each genre’s critique session, on-demand video lessons provided along with supplemental info sheets, links, etc.
- Asynchronous bonus activities to further embellish setting and prop development for each participant’s project(s).
For each genre, half the class will submit premises for critique, while the other half acts as critics. This rotation ensures that each student has the opportunity to write two premises and critique two over the course of the program. The instructor will provide additional feedback to all participants.
OBJECTIVES/Benefits/Takeaways
1. Master premise creation across three major fiction genres.
2. Develop two workshop-polished story ideas ready for expansion.
3. Enhance critical analysis and constructive feedback skills.
4. Gain insight into current market trends and genre expectations.
5. Improve rapid ideation and creative problem-solving abilities.
6. Learn to adapt story concepts for various formats (novel, screenplay, etc.).
7. Build a supportive network within the writing community.
8. Acquire genre-specific techniques (e.g., worldbuilding, character development, tension-building).
Week 1: Introduction to Genre Writing
Explore the fundamentals of genre fiction and prepare for the upcoming workshops.
On-demand videos:
1. The Art of the Premise: Crafting Compelling Story Foundations
2. Genre Conventions and Expectations: A Comparative Overview
In-class exercises:
- Genre Mash-up: Randomly assign pairs of genres to participants and have them brainstorm a premise that combines elements from multiple genres.
- Trope Transformation: Present common tropes from various genres and challenge participants to subvert or reinvent them in small groups.
- Character-Genre Swap: Create a character and then reimagine them in different genre settings, discussing how their traits might change or be emphasized.
Week 2: Speculative Fiction
The art of worldbuilding and what-if scenarios in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.
On-demand videos:
1. Worldbuilding Basics: Creating Believable Speculative Universes
2. Genre Expectations and Anticipations
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
- Horror
In-class WORKSHOP/CRITIQUE:Speculative Fiction Premises
Week 3: Romance Workshop
The nuances of crafting compelling love stories, from sweet romance to romantic comedy.
On-demand videos:
1. Genre Expectations and Anticipations: Key Elements and Structure
2. Beyond Clichés: Fresh Approaches to Romance Plots
In-class WORKSHOP/CRITIQUE:Romance Premises
Week 4: Mystery/Thriller Workshop
Uncover the secrets of creating suspenseful, page-turning stories that keep readers guessing.
On-demand videos:
1. Plot Twists and Red Herrings: Crafting Compelling Mystery Premises
2. Pacing in Thrillers: Building and Maintaining Tension
In-class WORKSHOP/CRITIQUE:Mystery/Thriller Premises
About the Instructor: A graduate of Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program (centered on the study of multiple genres in literature), Diana Dru Botsford's fascination with storytelling has propelled her from one medium to another, as she crafts tales for novels, short stories, theater, television, web series, and film. Along with her dad, she co-wrote the fan-favorite episode Rascals for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Botsford authored multiple works for Stargate SG-1’s tie-in universe include the novels Four Dragons and The Drift as well as the Scribe Nominee short story Perceptions. Her recent short story contributions include Everything and Nothing for the 2023 IAMTW anthology, Double Trouble, and History is Written by the Losers for the 2024 HERitage anthology.
Botsford created, wrote, and produced the 6-part award-winning time travel web series, Epilogue (http://epiloguetheseries.com). As a TV/Film writer, producer, and visual FX producer/director, her credits range from cult-favorite animated series such as Inspector Gadget, Spiral Zone, and Heathcliff and the feature film Pound Puppies & The Legend of Big Paw to live-action projects such as Tales from the Darkside, the CBS series Harts of the West, and Nightgames. Her Visual FX work includes films such as Nightmare on Elm Street VI, Dusk 'Til Dawn, Clifford, and Terminator 2.
Botsford has also written and directed for the historic Landers Theatre, incorporating ASL performers as main characters and offering fresh interpretations of family-oriented stories like Alice in Wonderland and Stuart Little. On the education front, she created and directed the award-winning screenwriting program at Missouri State University for nearly 20 years and has now turned her eye to teaching and coaching in the private sector while she continues her work developing three pilots currently under option at an independent studio. She’s knee-deep in writing a science fiction mystery novel while crafting her next story for the upcoming 2025 HERitage anthology.
Email & Links:
contact email: dianabotsford@gmail.com
web page: dianabotsford.com
Instagram: @digitalred93
Facebook: http://facebook.com/diana.botsford