Writing Powerful Settings

Live attendance is not required: enrollees can watch the recording at any time after the workshop!

Settings are more than just places — in the best of stories they’re mysterious characters in their own right, coming to life with personality and mood of their own. The gloomy isolation of the Overlook Hotel, the cozy chambers of 221B Baker Street, and the fiery crags of Mordor are all living elements of the novels they’re placed in, just as important as the actual characters that inhabit them.

But memorable settings aren’t accidents — they’re carefully designed and crafted literary elements. And the techniques that master writers use to forge these settings are not a mystery — they’re techniques that you can learn and apply to your own writing. So how can you develop a setting that’s just as memorable for your characters to interact with and grow in?

Join editor and writing teacher Ross Turner in this in-depth, practical workshop that explores the methods master writers use to build powerful settings — and how you can apply them to your own stories. Ross will guide you in writing exercises designed to practice your mastery of setting — plus, bring a setting of up to 1,000 words from your story (or write a totally new setting based on a workshop prompt) and you’ll get personal written feedback from Ross on your writing!

Part of mastering how to craft effective settings involves examining the work of other writers who handle settings particularly well: it involves analyzing and discussing their techniques, and uncovering how settings can become characters in their own right. The other part involves you crafting some settings for yourself — taking settings you’ve been working on, or writing entirely new ones — and learning how to ensure your settings do more than merely exist, but also develop characterization, propel your plot forward, and guide your characters’ arcs.

Due to the detailed nature of the written feedback you’ll receive, enrollment in this workshop is strictly limited. Ross’s last writing workshop completely sold out, so don’t miss this one!

Some of Ross’s career highlights

Zoom schedule

Everyone enrolled in this webinar will receive a copy of the recording afterwards, so you can review it later in case you missed it.

• Saturday April 13, 2024 1:00pm US Central time — 2 hours

How this workshop works

This workshop is a live Zoom webinar. Sign in from anywhere in the world and participate live as the instructor conducts the workshop, with time for Q&A at the end.

Student praise for Ross Turner

Ross has been such a big help. It was wonderful working with someone who was enthusiastic and genuinely cared about the quality of my work.

—Courtney

I thoroughly enjoyed learning from Prof. Ross. In a short amount of time, he went above and beyond to cater to my needs, revisiting my queries repeatedly, which I especially appreciate. He was sincere and reassuring, qualities I admire in a teacher. Highly recommended!

—Angela

Returning to education after quite some years, I soon became aware my approach to academic writing was lacking. Ross's professional, patient, enthusiastic and client-specific approach, is invaluable in understanding how to prepare, structure and complete my work, utilising grammar, in a succinct fashion. My weekly sessions with Ross have boosted my understanding, confidence and skill set. Altogether an experience I have found very helpful and highly recommend.

—Jim

Ross has been of invaluable help to me with my Creative Writing MA. From laying out academic essays to fine-tuning and perfecting my creative pieces, Ross has been an incredible support. He's professional, friendly, and I thoroughly recommend him.

—Rebecca

Ross takes pride in what he does and gives the most constructive, helpful, and supportive feedback. He has helped me immensely in my writing ability and confidence. Ross spends numerous hours looking thoroughly through your work, and provides insightful and informative sessions to discuss the feedback, and is always available and contactable for further help. I couldn't recommend Ross enough, he has been so supportive in my academic writing. Thank you Ross.

—Jessica

Ross is outstanding. Professional, efficient and has a brilliant way with explaining complex writing and grammar issues in a clear and simple way.

—Alice

Ross has been incredibly helpful and professional. I asked for his help because even though I am a published author, I have been suffering from writer's block for several years. After a couple of weeks of tutoring my confidence has been restored and I am writing again. I highly recommend him.

—Judy

Ross has guided me in my ambition to write my first novel. It is a work in progress and he continues to help me as I develop my style and creative skills. He has a natural ability to impart knowledge and his enthusiasm and obvious love of language translates easily into increased confidence and motivation in his student.

—Deborah

Questions about this class?

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have!

• Contact us and a real person will get back to you ASAP.

About Ross Turner

Ross Turner works as a creative and critical writer, editor, and private tutor. He is currently completing his practice-led creative writing PhD at York St John University, with a focus on short story cycles. Previously, he attended the University of Gloucestershire, and achieved his BA (Hons) in Creative Writing, for which he was awarded the Francis Close Hall Creative Writing Prize for the highest dissertation mark, and his MA in Creative and Critical Writing, for which he was awarded a postgraduate bursary from the UoG Annual Fund for Excellence, and the Tutors’ Prize for outstanding academic achievement, achieving the highest aggregate mark on the course.

Ross continues to publish creative, critical, and academic work. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Superlative—The Literary Journal, which published quality, innovative work by emerging short story writers, in order to promote new, developing authors and the art of the short story to readers worldwide.

He is a professional member of the National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE), where he attends regular writing conferences and has access to the latest writing in education materials. He enjoys educating, guest lectures on creative writing courses at colleges and universities, and has numerous education and training qualifications.

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