The Bones of the Story: A CJ Cooke workshop on plot structure

Every story begins with a disruption. Something shifts, something arrives, something ends... and suddenly the world of the story can never go back to what it was. But knowing that a story needs to begin is one thing. Knowing what should happen next, and why, and at what cost is where most of us get stuck.

In this 2-hour workshop we'll strip plot back to its essentials: not to a formula, but to the bones of stories that work, so you can diagnose what your own story needs.

Through short, generative exercises and lively discussion, you'll reverse-engineer a story you love, map the logic driving your own work-in-progress, and get practical, usable tools for the questions that plague every writer at every stage: what happens next? why does this bit feel flat? how do I get from here to the ending I can already see?

Suitable for all levels and all genres, whether you're drafting your first novel, stuck in the middle of your third, or have a brilliant idea that hasn't quite found its shape yet. Bring a work-in-progress if you have one, or come ready to invent one in the room.

CJ Cooke is an award-winning, bestselling novelist. Having spent the last 20+ years teaching creative writing, she leads this workshop with the aim of helping writers of all levels to master the fundamentals of storytelling through a powerful premise.

Image credit: Phil Sharp