This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Learn how to write villains, antagonists, and “bad guys” with this four-session course. You will come away with a new knowledge of the elements of fiction, how to increase your creativity, and great writing skills – and it’s a lot of fun!
Total classes: 4
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 8th-12th grade
Suggested credit: One-third (⅓) of a semester’s credit for Writing or English Combine with any high school or middle school 4, 6, or 8-week course for a total of 12-16 weeks per semester for one (1) full semester’s credit. Recommend continuing the Character Development Series (X-14, X-15, and X-16 courses).
Special notes: Course materials are provided FREE by the instructor. This course is the first course in a four-part series. Be sure to sign up for all four short courses to learn how to develop compelling characters in your storytelling.
Description
Join this four-session course and learn the craft of story writing with villains, antagonists, and “bad guys.” Every great story has a “bad guy” – and using the elements of great storytelling, we’ll craft unique characters and learn how to create tension and stakes with opposing forces. We’ll discuss how to build a compelling character arc with conflict and reader engagement while understanding the great potential of using strong opposing characters to help our protagonists grow. We’ll also dive into the types of “bad guys,” what drives an antagonist, and how a well-formed villain can actually bring out the best in a story. With this short course, you’ll hone your creativity and improve your writing. This is a fun course that you’ll definitely enjoy!
Outline
Class 1: What makes a villain?
Class 2: Powering up your villains and writing emotional arcs for villains
Class 3: Creating villains without glorifying evil
Class 4: Redemption arcs – giving a villain redemption
Materials and Homework
Materials:
All materials are provided free by the instructor. All documents are turned in as Microsoft Word documents. If you do not own Microsoft Word 2007 or a later version, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE
Homework:
Students will practice the concepts learned in class, with reading materials and resources between each class. One (1) to three (3) hours per class is expected for homework.
Important Dates
Class dates: Thursdays, September 19 to October 10, 2024
Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)
Duration: 50 minutes
