#38 Pop-Up... Writing MacGuffins in Mystery and Science Fiction
Writing MacGuffins
The Pop-Up.
Over the last number of years, topics and fun things had come up that Kris and I wanted to talk about, but we had had no structure to do so. But now we do with these Pop-Ups.
These Pop-Up topics will just appear when something strikes us. No regular order or timing, but we hope to do more than one per month at least.
Each Pop-Up will consist of from 10 to 15 videos on the topic. Maybe some extra stuff if the topic needs extra. And then one short story prompt.
The Short Story Prompt
Each Pop-Up will also have a short story assignment to a specific topic associated with the Pop-Up. If you decide to write the short story, you can send it to dean at [email protected]
Instructions for each will be in the assignment video.
We will suggest markets if we know of any. Also, if the story fits something either of us are editing at that moment and we like it, we might ask for you to send it back for that project. To send it back or not will be your choice. You are not submitting a story to anything by sending the story to us for feedback. You are just getting us to read it like a first reader. Only we are experienced editors.
Why would we do this? Because, honestly, we love reading short fiction and we would love to see what writers could do with some of these topics at hand.
Pop-Up #38... Writing MacGuffins in Mystery and Science Fiction
This is a focused look at MacGuffins, what are they, how they are used, and how they are in every genre, not just mystery and thrillers.
This might be one of the best short focus classes to help your writing go smoother.
And, of course, this will have a really fun short story prompt you can write in your own pace.
Your Instructor
With over twenty-three million copies of his books in print, USA Today bestselling writer Dean Wesley Smith now brings you original fiction every month for the past three years in his own magazine, Smith’s Monthly.
Dean wrote over twenty-five original Star Trek novels, the only two original Men in Black novels, plus Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man novels, and others. He wrote many gaming novels including Final Fantasy.
He wrote novels and stories under almost fifty pen names and did scripts for Hollywood as well as being an editor for various magazines. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch. You can follow his writing life at www.deanwesleysmith.com
Course Curriculum
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StartNew Pop-Up Introduction (1:59)
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StartSession #1 (4:56)
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StartSession #2 (5:48)
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StartSession #3 (5:33)
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StartSession #4 (6:04)
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StartSession #5 (5:10)
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StartSession #6 (5:28)
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StartSession #7 (6:25)
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StartSession #8 (6:56)
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StartSession #9 (6:26)
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StartSession #10 (4:40)
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StartMacGuffin Story Prompt (1:06)