1^st lesson free

Rate $98
Response 24h
Students
Number of students DW has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
3
Number of students DW has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

$98/h

1^st lesson free

English
Creative writing
Essay writing
Literature
Rhetoric

Novelist, screenwriter, editor-in-chief of EXCERPT teaches creative writing - elements of fiction, technique, and the fundamentals of story - so you can achieve your dream of writing a novel or screen

English
Creative writing
Essay writing
Literature
Rhetoric

Lesson location

- online

About DW

DW Ardern is a novelist, sketch/improv comic, and screenwriter living in Brooklyn, NY with a mischievous rabbit named Hazel and too many books. He was the runner-up for the Nancy D. Hard Grove Editor’s Prize in Fiction 2021 and their work has been supported by the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and Tin House Summer Workshop. He holds an MFA in Fiction & Screenwriting from Queens University of Charlotte. DW is the author of the novella Master of Starlight (Stalking Horse Press, 2025) and their stories have appeared in The Fourth River, Quagmire Literary Magazine, Stanchion, Vestal Review, Best Microfiction 2023 anthology, Fictive Dream, Jabberwock Review, Oyster River Pages, and The Offbeat among others. He is the founding editor of EXCERPT, a lit art magazine for emerging fiction writers (excerptmag.com). He also runs the sketch collective Fifth Floor Walkup with a motley cast and crew of writer/performers. DW began their career as a small-town New England reporter, covering rural life in the Maine woods. For the past fifteen years, he has worked in the NYC media industry as a professional writer, travel editor for Conde Nast, creative director, and speechwriter.

About the lesson

So you want to write a novel, screenplay, short story? Here's the truth before you ever dive into the wonderland of whatever wild brilliant idea is wriggling around in your subconscious... I can teach you how to write a novel / screenplay / short story from the first sentence to those poignant final words. However, you have to love the story. You must fall in love with the story because writing any story, especially a novel, is a marathon. It's exhausting, frustrating, obsessive, but it's damn fun when the words (and the story) start singing. And when you finish a manuscript, it's deeply satisfying. You have brought this story into the world! You have given these characters life! You have created a dream that others can share by opening up that wonderland and diving into the pages. What a fantastic magical thing! I'm a little different than your typical writing teacher. I believe that fiction, screenwriting, etc. can be taught through practice and the study of technique. I honestly don't know why writing isn't taught like music. At the end of the day, that's what it is. Learn how to pluck the strings, learn the chords, learn finger technique, learn song structure, learn by playing and practicing every day :) Depending on where you are in the process, here's the rundown on the typical lesson plan for novel writing. Screenplays are much different so just send me an email and I'll send you a syllabus. 1. What is Story? - learn how stories are structured (Freytag's Triangle, Three Act Structure, Hero's Myth, etc.) 2. Elements of Story - Character/POV, World, Time, Plot, Form 4. Character/POV - Exploring the Inner Life 5. World - Creating convincing worlds that resonate 6. Time - Learning the fluid mechanics of time in story so you can manipulate and create your fictive dream 7. Plot - Creating a plot that's driven by the characters who make real (and often difficult) choices 8. Form - Deciding on a form that best fits your story You'll be learning the craft as you write your novel / screenplay / short story. It's kinda like recording an album while learning to play guitar. You'll hit a lot of mud. You'll think it's garbage, then brilliant, then garbage again. And once you get to the end, it's a tremendous feeling. And most importantly, you've done something remarkable - you brought something you deeply love into the world through your sheer manifestation and hard work. How wonderful is that!

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

5 h: $488
10 h: $976

travel fee

+ $25

free lessons

This first lesson offered with DW will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

30min

online

$98/h

Novelist, screenwriter, editor-in-chief of EXCERPT teaches creative writing - elements of fiction, technique, and the fundamentals of story - so you can achieve your dream of writing a novel or screen

Lesson location

About DW

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

travel fee

free lessons

online

Other tutors in English

Ryan

Sherry

Poe

Michelle

Ritika

Connor

Alaa

Yudith

Mai

Jessica

Leena

Lorraine

Sara

Nicole

Alex Hartman

Imran

Anabel

Vanora

Michelle

Delia (Del)

Novelist, screenwriter, editor-in-chief of EXCERPT teaches creative writing - elements of fiction, technique, and the fundamentals of story - so you can achieve your dream of writing a novel or screen

Lesson location

About DW

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

travel fee

free lessons

online

Other tutors in English

Ryan

Sherry

Poe

Michelle

Ritika

Connor

Alaa

Yudith

Mai

Jessica

Leena

Lorraine

Sara

Nicole

Alex Hartman

Imran

Anabel

Vanora

Michelle

Delia (Del)

Share

Verified degree

levels

All languages in which the lesson is available

Review

Reviews

Recommendations

free lessons

Report this ad