Hey Writer!
This is the first lesson of my free writing course, the Fawn’s Formula. This lesson is a chance for you to reflect on your interests and speculate the lessons for the rest of the course. Let’s dive right in!
Idea 1: Fandoms
We all have our guilty pleasures—books we cherish, shows we binge, and movies we rewatch endlessly. These works inspire and entertain, while unconsciously shaping us. But what does it truly mean to be a fan?
- Is it stopping at the first episode of a new series, to prove to yourself you have self control?
- Is it rereading all the books of a certain series for the third time although other books await your attention on the shelf?
- Is it turning to fanfiction when you have run out of ideas to consume in a book?
- Is it finding a group of people that are also fans and creating a society to worship and contemplate the ideas of a book together?
Or is being a fan simply loving the craft, the masterpiece you stumbled upon that leaves you wondering how it caught your attention in the first place? How it felt so real to you; how it left you feeling like a new person?
Let’s harness those guilty pleasures for this course. Have you ever wondered why you were so attached? What was in the style, the plot, and the characters?
There’s always something to learn—not just about the work itself, but about how it captivates you.
Exercise 1: Your Personal Fandoms
- Write a list of your favorite books, movies, TV shows, short stories, documentaries—whatever you find yourself coming back to.
- Narrow your list down to 3–5 works.
- For each of the works of your narrowed list, jot down the reasons why you like them. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Is it the way a character is written?
- Is it how the setting made you feel?
- Is it the way the plot builds?
By identifying these elements, you’ll not only appreciate your favorite works more deeply but also gain insights into what makes stories memorable and compelling.
Idea 2: Breaking It Down
Imagine you’re a fawn—a hungry, curious fawn. You stumble upon a blueberry bush, yay! But instead of just eating them, you start wondering:
- How did this bush come about?
- Why are these blueberries so tasty?
Here’s what you know: it is a plant. The blueberry bush grew from a seedling to a plant, growing roots and leaves to flowers and berries. It was nurtured by nutrient-rich soil containing essential elements like calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Without this foundation, there wouldn’t be any blueberries.
Now, what if the blueberries were each of your favorite tv shows and books? What nutrients are in the soil now? What nutrients make the plant come to life?
In this course, we’ll focus on three core nutrients of storytelling: plot, style, and character. These are the nutrients in the soil that make the blueberries so tasty.
Exercise 2: The Nutrients in the Soil
- I would like you to draw the diagram above.
- Under each ‘nutrient’, write at least one subcategory or idea related to that element, similar to the example already filled in.
This exercise will help you start thinking about what goes into creating the stories you love and how writers carefully craft their work. While these are not the only elements of storytelling, they will be the main focus of the course. I believe understanding these elements is essential to refine your writing skills, based on my own experiences as a writer.
Conclusion
By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a better understanding of the stories you love and what goes into crafting them. These insights will guide you throughout the course, helping you develop your writing style in relation to the works you already love.
The next lesson will be a little different, designed to get your creative juices flowing. Ready to jump in? Let’s go!
This course is still in progress, with a new lesson coming out each week. If you would like an email update for when a new lesson is available, fill out the form below!
