Catalog Search Results
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
Margaret Atwood is an icon in utopian and dystopian fiction. Explore the ways she has helped to shape utopian thought and sexual politics with one of her classic novels, The Handmaid's Tale, as well as her more recent MaddAddam trilogy. Atwood is known for apocalyptic writing but you'll see how even her darkest works have elements of humor and satire with intrinsic meaning.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
Originating in the medieval period, polemical essays are the form for writers who wish to focus on a topic from one perspective only. They are often written to be deliberately polarizing. Refusing to shy away from volatile issues, it takes a strong writer to turn an antagonistic rant into a persuasive, polemical argument. Professor Cognard-Black shares examples of both well-written and overly strident polemical essays from authors such as Jonathan...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
Mr. Bell reveals two ways to bring your characters to life, along with a myriad of techniques you can put into practice, including a timeline, a voice journal, a simple relationship grid, and the areas you should plan to research. Plus, learn how minor details such as patterns of speech, dress, physical appearance, mannerisms, tics, eccentricities, and even names can have a major impact.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
First, learn what the essay is—and what it is not. See how the practice of writing essays has evolved over centuries yet has remained versatile, and examine the many uses of essays across the ages. Numerous essayists find starting out to be the most daunting part of writing. Professor Cognard-Black alleviates these hesitations, using examples from Aristotle to Michel de Montaigne to Edgar Allan Poe on how to look both inward and outward to find...
105) Tell Me a Story
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
Mr. Bell introduces you to the seven critical success factors of fiction and shows you how best-selling writers put them into practice. He explores literary genres through the success of best sellers written by authors such as Harper Lee and Gillian Flynn. He then outlines the 10 characteristics a serious writer must possess.
106) The Sidekick
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
Where would a Sherlock be without a Watson? The story of the sidekick isn’t required in a successful mystery but they remain pivotal and entertaining characters who deserve their own deep dive. Follow the diverse cast that fulfilled the many roles sidekicks play, from the straight man in what could be a very long joke to the secret brilliant mind behind every solved case.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2014.
Description
You might have a mental image of the writer as a solitary genius toiling away in an ivory tower. But writers today must be adept at both the crafting of words and the business of publishing. To conclude, Professor Hynes surveys the publishing landscape today and gives advice for making the leap from hobbyist to professional.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
Examine the many ways Butler challenges boundaries - not only of genres, but also of human identity. See how she tackles the questions that are important in defining utopian futures: what does it mean to be human? Is utopia always an unresolvable paradox? And if it is, does it have to be? How much can we change and still be considered human? And really, does being human even matter?
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
The feminist utopian movement began in the 1970s and, despite the name, doesn't feature very many traditional "utopias." There is a guarded optimism represented in these novels that dealt with real-world issues of discrimination by creating societies portrayed as classless, crimeless, government-free, but laden with satire.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
Many essayists find themselves doing an about-face as they write, sometimes because they may not have fully researched or thought through an idea before making claims about it. Essays that present conflicting views are not uncommon; Socrates would commonly switch sides in order to test all parts of an argument, and many others have followed his example. Learn how writing essays that provide both sides of an argument, even if you completely support...
111) Voice and Style
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
Through examples from Janet Evanovich, Elmore Leonard, Douglas Adams, Tom Robbins, Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald, Raymond Chandler, and others, gain the knowledge to master your voice by getting into your character. Then, delve into the rudimentary lessons of a good writer: showing versus telling, avoiding narrative summaries, writing great descriptions, and using telling details.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
Dissect the elements in a book proposal, which is essentially a business plan that persuades a publisher to invest in your book. Because publishers look for a viable idea with a clear market, paired with a writer who has credibility and marketing savvy, your proposal will need to demonstrate both of these, which will require investigation into the target market, audience, competition, authors, and more. Learn the five essential components you need...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
If you have a clever anecdote, an interesting memory, a new way to explain how something works, or an opinion on a social or political issue, then you have an essay in you. Unlike a novel, history book, or scientific publication, essays provide you with the versatility to express all the various facets that make you you. The concise and direct nature of an essay means that you may tap into your sense of wit, share your individual point of view, persuade...
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
In this important lecture, you’ll learn why you might be rejected, even if you’ve done everything correctly. Dissect some of the common reasons for rejection, how to let go of rejection or react to it in a constructive manner, and what your options are if you’ve been rejected. Interpret common or form rejection phrases to learn what feedback is really being conveyed..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
The cyberpunk genre often features advanced information technology. Through satire or in earnest, we get at the same anxieties about contemporary American society: the internet has amazing potential to create a better, more egalitarian world, but we may be going about it all wrong, creating a new generation of young people who rely on technology without truly understanding it.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2014.
Description
Revisit beginnings. How do you get started with a story? Here, Professor Hynes shifts from the techniques of plotting to offer several clear strategies for putting these techniques into action. He also provides invaluable advice about making choices on the page - and understanding the implications of those choices.
117) A Children’s Guide to Folklore and Wonder Tales: Episode 12,Tom Thumb and Thumbelina: Little Heroes
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
Tom Thumb is grounded in oral folklore, meaning it was passed through the ages verbally as the storytellers could not read or write. Dr. Harvey shares J.O. Halliwell's poetic version of "Tom Thumb" as well as a Hans Christian Andersen's "Thumbelina" and discusses the differences between traditionally defined folktales and stories written by literary authors.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
As the mystery genre adapted to social transformations, the characters themselves evolved. Professor Schmid examines traditional examples of the private eye and compares them to a modern take as illustrated by Lisbeth Salander. Classic private eye characters often have distinct character flaws. Larsson updates this notion with a vengeance, giving Lisbeth almost no likeable qualities.
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
While most aspiring writers are thrilled to get to this point in the publication process, it’s also important to know what will be expected of you once a publisher agrees to move forward. Learn the several phases you’ll go through with the publisher, including editorial development, design and production, sales and marketing planning, the book launch, and post-launch PR and publicity..
Publisher
The Great Courses
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
Often confused with “the detective,” the private eye is different from the classical version of the detective in terms of motivation, methods, lifestyle, and beliefs, and is the major contribution of American hard-boiled fiction. Comparing a vast selection of stories across history, you’ll isolate the differences between the two crime-solvers and understand the different impacts each had.
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