Writer's Digest 2023 WDC Writing Conference

Even if you’ve fine-tuned the big-picture areas in your manuscript—character, plot, stakes—your story may not be working as effectively as it could. As foundational as these three main tentpoles of story are, without the essential supporting players of story that draw readers in, keep them engaged, and propel them through the story, yours can still fall flat.

This presentation encompasses an in-depth exploration of these “microedit” areas—those elements in both fiction and nonfiction that serve as the engine of story, and where many manuscripts need strengthening: tension and suspense, momentum and pace, showing and telling, point of view, and voice.

Using plenty of specific published examples across many genres, as well as group “live edits” of participants’ work that will show the principles in action—we’ll explore ways to identify where these elements may not be working as effectively as they could, and practical, effective ways to strengthen these areas in your own work.

What you’ll learn

The workshop will cover how and why these essential microedit elements drive and strengthen your story; how to determine whether you’re using them effectively; and specific, actionable ways to address areas that may not be serving your story:

The difference between suspense and tension, why both are crucial to every story in every genre, and how to use these powerful tools together to propel readers through your story
Why tension is crucial on every page of every genre, and how to use the six different main types of tension to draw readers in and drive the story
Why “show, don’t tell” is a misguided writing myth, the valuable narrative purposes each serves, and how to determine when to use which, and how
How momentum differs from pace and why it’s the holy grail of storytelling; how to create and sustain momentum throughout your story; how pace serves momentum and why it should vary while momentum should be constant
The differences between the main narrative POVs; the benefits and challenges of each; and how to determine what point of view might best serve your story
What is voice, and why it’s something you don’t need to create in your writing

Using ample published examples across a variety of genres, as well as “live edits” of participants’ WIPs and group discussion, this workshop will deepen your mastery of these key story elements and help you make your story as impactful and effective as possible.

Who Should Attend:

Writers at every level of their careers will gain a more profound understanding of these key supporting craft elements, and learn practical, actionable techniques for assessing and addressing these areas in their own work
This workshop is suitable for all fiction genres, as well as memoir and narrative nonfiction—these elements are crucial in any story, and these tools are widely applicable no matter your genre
Writers who know their story may not be working as well as it could but can’t pinpoint why
Writers in the query process who aren’t getting requests
Writers stuck in drafting or editing who can’t figure out what’s hampering their story
Writers who want a more in-depth understanding of these key story elements and how to effectively use them

Difficulty level:

Speaker(s)

Tiffany Yates Martin