The seven critical success factors of fiction; their implementation by best-selling authors; exploring literary genres through the success of best sellers; Harper Lee; Gillian Flynn; 10 characteristics a serious writer must possess.
Examples from writers such as John Grisham, Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos and Thomas Harris; what makes a novel; what makes a novel successful; the role luck plays in creating a best seller.
A selection of fun exercises; examples from Alice Sebold and Mickey Spillane; demonstrating the importance of creating unique elements; a twist; a character; a setting; a relationship; how to create the ever-important elevator pitch.
The principles of a successful novel; Bell's proprietary system; LOCK stands for lead, objective, confrontation and knockout; how famous authors such as Stephen King, David Baldacci and others utilize these fundamental elements.
Different writing styles; pansters versus plotters; getting an understanding of a plot-driven and a character-driven story; using the writings of John Grisham, Ernest Hemingway and Lee Child to evaluate the traditional mythical structure.
How authors use disturbances or a jolt to hook a reader; how that contributes to the book becoming a best seller; other elements in the first act that build up the character bonding and tension; how to keep a reader's interest.
James Scott Bell
Host
