All novels need conflict: it’s at the heart of the story itself, and it’s why the reader keeps turning the pages. Conflict is what keeps the reader asking, “What happens next?”

Infusing your story with tension doesn’t mean you need to resort to melodramatic tricks and clichés. In this class, award-winning author Alma Katsu will define what conflict is (and isn’t), as well as describe four different kinds of conflict and show how to layer them to create depth in your novel. Most importantly, it will teach you how to analyze your own writing and provide concrete techniques you can use to create more suspense and tension in your work. These techniques can be applied to all kinds of writing, not just mysteries and thrillers.

As part of the class, attendees are encouraged to submit up to three pages of their own work. A number will be selected for review with the class, to show which elements contribute to building conflict and suggest potential ways to develop more.

This and other pre-conference master classes from James River Writers can be purchased a la carte, even if you aren't attending the JRW conference on October 7-8! Classes fill quickly, so don’t delay.