Have an idea you’re dying to write as a novel? A killer thriller, a steamy romance, or cozy mystery? Novels are one of the most versatile art forms for good reason: they can take almost any shape, genre, or size. But that presents a problem: how do you begin one?

In this class we’ll dive into the preparatory work of novel writing. Participants will leave this class with a greater understanding of the novel form, and a game plan for tackling their creative masterpiece. We’ll cover subjects such as:

• Is my idea a novel or a short story?
• Antagonists and protagonists, sidekicks and mentors.
• Brainstorming and exercises to prime your creativity.
• Plus the most important part of writing a novel, regardless of genre.

This class is taught by a graduate student in the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s MFA Program in Creative Writing.