Story Sorcery

Throughout six separate chapters, plus a diverse selection of exercises and references, Story Sorcery and the Quest to Write Stronger Fantasy will take you through the tried and true principles behind any successful fantasy story.

From foundational practices to specific, scene-based methods, you’ll learn how to conjure fantastic story ideas and lay down the narrative building blocks of compelling tales and stunningly inventive worlds.

Featuring stimulating quotes from genre luminaries, handy example text, and real-world illustrations from celebrated authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss and Robert Jordan, Story Sorcery will help you keep your eager readers turning the pages all the way to the end.

Hosted by writing tutor Daniel Kaplan, this 4-week interactive course includes weekly live streams packed with additional topics and class interaction. Ask questions, get answers, and work your way through the most frustrating storytelling blocks with the help of your tutor and classmates.

You can even receive feedback on your writing from your peers should you wish to share it.

In this foundation-setting introductory module, we’ll walk you through:

• Understanding how to transform inspiration from the real world, plus your imagination, into a compelling hook for your tale.
• Mastering techniques for creating a believable world… without taking two decades to research and plan!
• Transporting and immersing your audience: the key to successful fantasy.

Many writers like to begin with a hook and then free-write, which can often end up in a tangled mess of words and plot points.

Just as a potion master wouldn’t experiment with a concoction unless they knew the function of every ingredient, a great writer understands the underpinnings of story formula and when, where, and if to deviate from established methods.

Here, you’ll get a thorough understanding of:

• Story structures and when they can help or potentially hurt you as an author.
• Why you should engage your internal architect if you want to make your story more believable… and infinitely easier to write. 
• How to handle the ticking clock and other tension-ratcheting techniques that keep readers glued to the page. 
• How to foreshadow and set up payoffs for a satisfying conclusion.

Fantasy allows for a seemingly endless array of characters. From humans to monsters, centaurs to talking trees. In this module, we’ll discuss how characters drive a story forward and how to use them most effectively.

Prepare to uncover:

• How to quickly and easily generate wildly different characters, complete with realistic backstory.
• The key elements of believable characters your readers will truly get behind – and root for them to succeed. 
• Why misunderstanding of handling the “stakes” is one of the biggest failures you can suffer in genre storytelling, and exactly what you should do not just to get it right, but to use them as a tool to propel the reader through the story. 
• How to bring to life a villain your readers will love to loathe – probably the best effort-to-payoff ratio of any preparatory work you can do. 
• How to ensure characters earn their right to be on the page, and remain easily distinct from one another.
• How to borrow from reality to create unique species and cultures straight out of your own imagination.

Backed up with pre-made custom worksheets, this module will turn all of your character- and creature-building duties into a straightforward, resistance-free process.

No fantasy story is complete without a defined style – and while style can be a personal tool, specific to any given author, there are key concerns you should be aware of.

In this module, you’ll discover:

• How different Points of View affect your storytelling, and which kinds are best for an engaging adventure. 
• Why being obsessed with the minutiae of your fantasy world might actually be your undoing. 
• How to translate the way we naturally interpret the world onto the page, so readers feel like they’re truly inside your imaginary domain – part of a living world they’ve never seen before. 
• The correct way to build mood and atmosphere – and the lazy mistakes most aspiring authors make that leaves their work drenched in cliché. 
• What it means to “show don’t tell,” and how that advice can be good… and bad.

In this module we take things closer… and decode the building blocks for mesmerizing scenes. 

Understand different types of scene, and how each should be approached. Is this a build-up, where the audience is learning about the world? Is this an action scene, where the hero has found themselves fighting against an adversary? We’ll go through the different types of scenes and how to pace and construct them. 

Here’s a brief hint of something you’ll need to think about: 

Does your mind start racing when you read what you’ve invented?

A lot of fantasy involves magic, but without a clear system in place magic can appear to only serve as an author convenience, not as a part of the world.

Learn techniques to keep your magic within a plausible reality and how not to miss out on opportunities to take advantage of everything you establish.

We’ll also round off this last module with a series of tricks that will add that final knockout punch to your prose – completing your transformation from a writer who struggled to get readers to turn a page, into a master of many realms.

Soon you’ll wield the magic of Story Sorcery.

To get you started with your new skills, we’ve even included an expanded set of 50 exclusive writing prompts – so you can whip up a storm right away.

In addition to the examples contained within the chapters, you’ll further contextualize core teachings of the Story Sorcery course as we guide you through exploration of selected scenes from works including:

• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
• Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
• The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
• The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Develop stronger insight into the storytelling techniques and psychological triggers at play within works from some of the most effective fantasy authors in the business – so you know exactly how and when to use them yourself.

Alongside the Story Sorcery course content and live classes, you’ll also receive access to our members-only community forums throughout the course period.

Chat about all things writing, share your work, engage in creative activities with like-minded authors, and more.

Plus, join us for exclusive live events with additional guests from within the publishing industry. Get involved, ask your questions, and share some quality time with the professionals at no extra cost.

Past guests in our live events include:

• Lee Murray
• Jo Kaplan
• David Haynes
• John L. Probert
• Thana Niveau
• Gary McMahon
• Rayne Hall

If you miss an event, don’t worry – recordings are posted for community members, offering hour after hour of expertise for you to dig into right away.