Laying the foundation for Mechanics. Learn why fiction gets taught the way it does, how Mechanics changes the game, and how we can construct a functional definition of fiction as a target to aim at as fiction writers.

Then:

Build a comprehensive understanding of how plot works in fiction based on decades of scholarship in narrative theory, breakthroughs in cognitive science, and a thorough grounding in narrative craft.

Part 1 of 6 -- This is the same content contained in the individual lessons and playlists, which I'm compiling here for the sake of convenience. Timestamps:

1. Introduction & Philosophical Foundations 00:00
2. What is a Story? 30:48
3. Compartment 1 of your Toolbox: Plot 56:38
4. A Dynamic Storyworld 58:56
5. Ways a Story Changes State I 01:05:18
6. Ways a Story Changes State II 01:13:13
7. What Changes Are Interesting (and Why) 01:19:52
8. Suspense (or Cognitive Magnetism) 01:43:13
9. A Plot (or Not): Grammatical Stories 01:59:03
10. The Plot Thickens (because of course it does…) 02:23:18
11. Possible Worlds, Dilemma & Conflict 02:35:58
12. Time: Order 02:50:03
13. Time: Duration 03:03:52
14. Putting It All Together 03:25:37

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The companion book for this series containing lecture notes and exercises is tailored to sharpen the skills covered in each lesson and is available through my online bookstore:

https://www.amazon.com/author/p.e.rowe

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A complete list of references is linked on the "Mechanics of Fiction" page on my website: https://www.rowelit.com/mechanics-of-fiction

Thanks for watching!