The Essentials of How to Plot

Want to learn how to write page-turners that engage readers from start to finish? Whatever medium you write in, award-winning screenwriter Bill Gullo's class will help you craft plots that resonate.

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Cost: $95

Student limit: 15

Plenty of writers can craft beautiful words or explore deep themes; some can capture dynamic dialogue and create colorful characters. But almost every one of us struggles at times with the single most important part of fiction writing in any medium: The Plot.

You could write the prettiest prose in the world, but if your plot isn’t tight, cohesive and enthralling, it will always be a challenge to reel readers in. While so much of writing is an art that’s guided by the heart, crafting plot is something closer to a science. It takes creativity, for sure, but also strategic thinking and planning. That said, plotting can also be a lot of fun!

In this fast-paced seminar designed for writers of all stripes, award-winning screenwriter and writing instructor Bill Gullo will map out the essentials of how to plot, whether you’re a fiction writer who wants to improve the narrative drive of your short stories and novels, or a screenwriter chasing the coveted description of penning a “page turner” or a “fast read.”

Bill Gullo has over 20 years of experience as a screenwriter and educator. He was the associate director of Almanack Screenwriters for seven years, where he mentored up-and-coming film and TV writers, and has also taught screenwriting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

In this two-hour seminar, Bill offers specific strategies that will help you map out the best possible plot for any story you’ve ever wanted to write. He’ll demystify the outline process and offer tips for how to improve causality and heighten conflict throughout your work. You’ll learn tools and techniques for crafting great plots—then test them out in live exercises during class.

This class is right for you if…

• You’ve ever received feedback that your ideas are strong but your story needs to be tighter and more enthralling.

• You’re working on a short story, novel or screenplay and want to revise and hone your work to ensure it’s ready for submission.

• You have an idea for your next project and want to map out the strongest structure before you start writing.

After this class you’ll be ready to…

• Improve your outlining process, heighten and escalate your storytelling, and go into every writing session with the confidence that you know where your story is going.

This class takes place on Thursday, December 11 from 7pm to 9pm ET. All Narratively Academy classes are conducted online and accessible to students anywhere in the world. This class will be recorded and shared with all enrolled students, but live attendance and participation is strongly encouraged.

Your Instructor: Bill Gullo’s writing life began in New Orleans with his decision to write a novella while pursuing his MA in literature. He later adapted that manuscript into the feature screenplay, REDMOND, which went on to win the award for best screenplay at the IFP Market in New York City. His next original screenplay, THE LONG BLUE YONDER, was a semi-finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting and was selected for Hollywood’s Black List. Bill’s creative work expanded to writing, directing and producing for film, TV, stage and the web as his debut as a writer/director came with the short film, One Year Down, which premiered the same year as his stage musical, You Again (a Musical about Cloning), which he wrote, produced and directed at the The New York International Fringe Festival. Bill wrote the screenplay for the feature film, +1 (aka PlusOne), a New York Times Critic’s Pick, and wrote The Quitter, which the New York Times described as “a textured, heartfelt drama.” His original psychological thriller, Bastard, attracted Martin Scorsese as an executive producer, and he currently has two feature films at the casting stage: a science fiction love story, Nectar, written for Brazilian director Caito Ortiz, and his original darkly comic thriller, Toxic with Stephanie Laing attached to direct.

Bill teaches screenwriting at NYU and was the longtime associate director of Almanack Screenwriters, where he supported emerging film/TV writers with strong voices and unique stories. He is the founder of Storytellers Social Club, a network of storytellers from diverse disciplines and This Time/Next Time, a story consulting service for individuals and organizations.

“Thirty years deep into a writing career in a completely different genre, I wanted guidance on my first foray into screenwriting to come from a working screenwriter who knows what they're doing—and Bill does. He's a great teacher, wonderfully engaged and focused, and any writer who's ready to dig in can be sure the class will delivers on its promise. —Marya Hornbacher, New York Times bestselling author

Registration Details: Seats in this class are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Cancellation Policy:

• Full refund when canceling 7 or more days before the class start date.

• 50% refund when canceling less than 7 days before the class start date.

• No cancellations after the class start date.

Questions? Email us at academy@narratively.com.

MORE: Check out all of our upcoming Narratively Academy classes here.