FenCon is pleased to announce that Monalisa Foster will be running this year's workshop. 

Who This Is For?

Writers—plotters and discovery writers alike—who want concrete, analytical tools for strengthening story structure across genres and mediums. For plotters, the structural work precedes the writing. For pantsers, discovery writers, and plotsers (those who are in between plotting and pantsing) the structural work is applied after or during writing. The methods we’ll cover are adaptable to most writing styles and processes.

What Is This?

A practical, no-nonsense deep dive into narrative structure using a single mega-hit film as our shared text. Instead of assigning a novel, we’ll analyze a movie (not Star Wars)—faster to consume, easier to annotate, and ideal for isolating structure without prose getting in the way.

We’ll examine why this story has endured for decades by breaking down its structure with emphasis on pacing, character development, and narrative engine.

The analysis begins with the simplest foundation—beginning, middle, and end—and then layers increasingly sophisticated structural frameworks. This method is equally effective for plotters, pantsers (discovery writers), and plotsers, providing tools for both planning and revision.

How Does It Work?

This workshop runs across multiple days and includes overnight convention homework.

After registration, students will receive an email with a mandatory pre-class assignment. This assignment must be completed and submitted no later than Sunday before the convention begins. Students who do not complete the assigned work will not be permitted to attend—no auditors.

Enrollment is strictly limited to 12 students.

Time permitting, we will also explore how different narrative schemas would have changed the film under study, reinforcing the importance of structural choice and narrative perspective.

What Does It Cost?

$65 plus a convention membership. (Click on the Registration link at the top of the page to get started.)

About five ours of work prior to the class.  

What Do You Need?

• The ability to watch the assigned film in a way that allows you to pause it often.
• Access to a spreadsheet program and email and the ability to use both.
• Ability to follow instructions and a learning attitude.
• Ability to print out the assigned homework prior to the class.
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow submission guidelines.