Teaching & Academics
Humanities
Short Story Writing
Write Stories With a Twist
4.2 (236 ratings)
Course Ratings are calculated from individual students’ ratings and a variety of other signals, like age of rating and reliability, to ensure that they reflect course quality fairly and accurately.
2,714 students enrolled

Write Stories With a Twist

Creating Stories With a Twist in the Tail
4.2 (236 ratings)
Course Ratings are calculated from individual students’ ratings and a variety of other signals, like age of rating and reliability, to ensure that they reflect course quality fairly and accurately.
2,714 students enrolled
Created by Jane Bettany
Last updated 4/2017
English
English [Auto-generated]
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Write Stories With a Twist
Current price: $65.99 Original price: $94.99 Discount: 31% off
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This course includes
  • 1.5 hours on-demand video
  • 12 articles
  • 20 downloadable resources
  • Full lifetime access
  • Access on mobile and TV
  • Certificate of Completion
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What you'll learn
  • Identify and recognise the six different types of plot twist.
  • Generate your own ideas and use them to outline and create your own twist stories.
  • Understand how to edit, proofread and submit your story.
Requirements
  • It helps to have some knowledge of story elements such as plot, characterisation, setting and dialogue, but is not essential.
  • An understanding of fiction writing terms is useful, but not required (a glossary of terms will be provided as part of the course).
Description

In this course you will learn everything you need to know to develop twist plots that you can use in short stories or in a novel.

Twist stories can be a very lucrative form of writing, and they are also great fun to write. Write Stories With a Twist covers all of the techniques and tips you will need for success. By the end of the course you will understand exactly how twist plots work and be in a position to create twist stories of your own.

Here's what you'll learn in the course:

  • Why twist stories are so lucrative.
  • The importance of researching the writing markets for twist stories
  • The six types of twist: the Unreliable Narrator, Reversal of Identity, Reversal of Motive, Reversal of Perception, Reversal of Achievement, and Reversal of Fortune.
  • We will analyse several story examples, including The Gift of the Magi by O Henry and The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
  • How to create a twist, and then twist again.
  • Building on your initial twist idea.
  • Creating a story outline.
  • How to sow clues in your story.
  • The way to misdirect your readers.
  • Plots and storylines to avoid.
  • Novel v short story.
  • Editing your work.
  • Proofreading tips (with a proofreading exercise to test your skills).
  • Discover how to submit your work to an editor, publisher or agent.
  • And finally, complete an end of course quiz.

There's also a glossary and recommended reading list with the course.

You’ll learn by listening to lectures, completing writing exercise and reading downloadable handouts and other materials. You’ll apply the things you learn in the lectures by reading and analysing stories to find out how they have been put together.

Quite simply, this course has everything you need to learn how to write stories with a twist.

And of course it comes with Udemy's 30-day money back guarantee - so if you're not completely satisfied with the course, you can ask for your money back, no questions asked. So what have you got to lose?

The course is taught by a qualified writer with over 25 years of fiction writing experience.

Who this course is for:
  • This course is for writers who have a particular interest in learning how to create plots with a twist - for use in either short stories or novels.
  • Some previous experience of writing fiction will be an advantage, but is not essential.
Course content
Expand all 33 lectures 02:06:52
+ – Introduction
3 lectures 13:47

Welcome! In this video lesson I'll explain why I created this course and what you will learn in the lessons.


Welcome to the course
Preview 04:28

Why are writers drawn towards twist stories? What are the advantages of creating twist plots?

Why twist?
03:15

In this lesson we consider the importance of researching markets for twist stories before you start to write.

Do your research
06:04
+ – Types of twist
10 lectures 41:06

In this video, we look at how to create a twist using an unreliable narrator.

The unreliable narrator
Preview 03:28

In this video, we look at how to create a twist using a reversal of identity.

Reversal of identity
03:22

Now let's look at twist types that rely on a reversal of motive.

Reversal of motive
02:20

Now it's time to think about twists that revolve around a reversal of perception.

Reversal of perception
03:10

Let's consider the type of twist that relies on a reversal of achievement.

Reversal of achievement
01:08

Read the Gift of the Magi by O Henry, which is an example of a story that uses a reversal of achievement twist (you can also download the story as a PDF).

If you prefer, you can move straight on to an analysis of the story in the next lesson.

[Activity] Read a story example: The Gift of the Magi by O Henry
08:39

In this lesson, we analyse The Gift of the Magi by O Henry using a story template, which you can use to outline your own twist stories later in the course. You can listen to the analysis in the video lesson, or download the analysis as a PDF.

Story analysis - The Gift of the Magi
07:44

In this video we look at twists that rely on a reversal of fortune (also known as peripeteia)

Reversal of fortune (peripeteia)
03:55

The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant is an example of a story that uses a reversal of fortune twist. In this lecture you can listen to or read my analysis of the story to help you understand more about a reversal of fortune type twist. The analysis uses the template we referred to in our earlier analysis of The Gift of the Magi.

[Activity] Read and analyse a story - The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
03:21

Here's a short recap on what we've learned during this section.

Types of twist - recap
03:59
+ – Writing your twist story
11 lectures 47:24

This lesson offers advice on how to start developing a twist for your story.

Let's twist
04:50

Adding a second twist to short pieces of fiction will make your story more satisfying for readers and more likely to sell to an editor. This lesson looks at a story example to demonstrate how a second twist can add extra value.

Let's twist again [includes an example story activity]
05:12
[Activity] Writing exercise
00:12

Once you've thought of an idea for a twist, you'll need to start to build a story around it. This lesson looks as some of the ways you can do this.

Building on your twist
04:28

In this lesson we look at how to create an outline for your twist story.

Creating an outline
04:57

This lesson considers why you need to sow clues in your story in order to satisfy your readers. It also considers the Chekhov's Gun principle.

Sowing clues in your story
03:54

This lesson considers some of the ways you can misdirect readers in order to create a plot twist, and it includes a story example which can be downloaded as a PDF.

The art of misdirection
06:30

Some twists have been over-used in story plots. Here are a few that you should avoid.

Plots and stereotypes to avoid
04:13

Twist plots are equally popular in short stories and novels.

Novel v Short Story
Preview 04:23
Writing exercise
00:44

In this bonus lesson, we consider the art of writing dialogue.

Bonus lesson - writing dialogue
08:00
+ – Submitting your story
5 lectures 15:18

In this lesson your can read some tips for editing your work. Editing is an important part of the writing process and is not something you should neglect. Editing can often take longer than writing the first draft.

Editing your work
03:47

Proofreading is essential if you want to present your work professionally, and it is vital if you decide to self-publish. Some people are better at spotting errors than others. This lesson includes tips and pointers to help you with the process, but if you don't feel confident about proofreading, then it's probably best to get someone else to do it for you.

Proofreading tips
03:01

This short exercise is designed to test your proof reading and observation skills. The answers are provided in the accompanying PDF.

Proofreading exercise
01:59
[Activity] Story example - A Head of My Time by Jane Bettany
00:22

Listen to this lesson or read the guide to submitting your short story or novel to an editor, publisher or agent. Also included with the lesson is an example manuscript layout.

Submitting your work
06:08
End of course quiz
10 questions
+ – Next steps
3 lectures 07:15
This useful list explains some of the terms used in the course.
Glossary of terms
03:51

Here are some twist stories that are well worth reading to learn more about how twist plots work.

Recommended reading
00:41

This video contains some suggested 'next steps' to sustain your motivation for writing.

Next steps
02:43
+ – Bonus section
1 lecture 01:59

Thank you so much for joining me on this course. I hope you’ve found it useful. Please feel free to get in touch at any time if you have any questions about your writing projects.

COURSE COUPONS

If you’ve enjoyed learning with me and would like to sign up for another of my courses, you can use the code STUDENTSPECIAL to get them for $12 (or use the links below):

Write Short Stories: The Essential Guide for $12

https://www.udemy.com/write-short-stories/?couponCode=STUDENTSPECIAL

Writing Non-Fiction: The Essential Guide for $12

https://www.udemy.com/writing-non-fiction/?couponCode=STUDENTSPECIAL

MONTHLY CONTEST TO WIN A WRITING CRITIQUE

If you have completed 85% or more of the lessons in this course, you will automatically be entered into my monthly prize draw to win a writing critique (see the video in this Bonus Section for more details).

KEEP IN TOUCH

Finally, if you’d like to keep in touch, visit my blog at www.writingsuccess.co.uk/blog for more writing resources and updates or follow me on Twitter @JaneBettany

Bonus lecture
01:59