• Starting a novel is thrilling. Finishing a draft? Something else entirely. Somewhere between chapter three and “how did I get here,” the path blurs and the story’s direction starts to slip away. This class invites you to pause and take a step back from your manuscript to reconnect with what your novel is really about.  

  Over two sessions, we’ll examine the core movements that give a novel its sense of momentum: how tension develops and hooks the reader’s attention, how character choices move the story forward, and how scenes link together to create direction. We’ll study the structure of well-known novels, looking at how their architecture works on the page, and consider how those patterns can inform your own draft.  

  Through guided exercises, you’ll begin shaping or reshaping your outline: locking in on essential story beats, clarifying emotional turns, refining the threads you want to follow, and identifying the fun side quests that may be pulling your story off course. We’ll also explore practical strategies for maintaining momentum: recognizing your story's emerging form, writing toward tension, and tracking your plotlines without overwhelming yourself. 

  You’ll leave with a sharper sense of plot, concrete tools for navigating a long-form project, and a flexible roadmap you can return to whenever you need to reorient yourself in the draft. 

  Perfect for any fiction writer in need of structural guidance, whether you’re starting your first novel, wrangling an ambitious project, or looking for a way out of the murky middle.  

  Roadmap to a First Draft: Find Your Novel’s Plot with Grace Bialecki focuses on: 

  • Generative Writing: Focuses on producing new writing through prompts and exercises. 

  • Craft & Technique: Focuses on the building blocks of strong writing  

  • Close Reading & Analysis: Engages deeply with published texts to examine craft, language, and style. 

  What to expect:  

  • Project-Based: Students will work toward completing a specific project (e.g., a story, poem, or essay). 

  • Reading & Analysis: Published works will be closely read as part of the learning process. 

  • Lecture: Instructor-led teaching. 

  • Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation. 

  • Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities. 

  • In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write. 

  • 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class. 

• Cost: $150. More info and registration here.

  Students say… 

  “Grace is an excellent instructor and facilitator. This class was hugely helpful and I left feeling like I had a sense of direction, plot and theme. Thank you Grace!” 

  “[Feedback] with a 1:1 partner was very helpful. 'plot map' exercise was very productive.”