From Song to Story
How to write an original short story based on a song
From Song to Story walks you through the process of writing a short story from start to finish. You’ll go from listening to a song, generating and discovering ideas, identifying themes to construct a structure, then drafting and revising a final story.
Working through the lessons and exercises in this course will help you develop skills as a storyteller. You can also use this course to build a portfolio of individual stories, a short story collection or a novel-in-stories, or as a reference guide to support your writing practice.
From Song to Story is a self-guided course that you can complete in your own time and schedule. It is for beginner and experienced writers to practice their craft and write their own stories.
From Song to Story includes:
Unlimited access to the online course, which you can follow at your own pace on any device
3 modules with over 45 exercises on idea development, story structure, language and style, and revision
Additional applications on how to use From Song to Story in your writing practice
91 page .pdf version of the course to print out, or work with digitally
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Hi! I’m Katie.
I’m a writer and educator with over twenty years of experience. I’ve worked with writers of all ages and skill levels, from kindergartners at after school programs to senior citizens sharing their life story with loved ones, as well as in alternative environments such as a learning center for home schoolers and a residential treatment facility for teenage girls. I’ve been trained in inclusion, accessibility, and methods of teaching writing through positive feedback.
The transformations I’ve witnessed in my students, and in my own writing practice, have taught me that sharing our stories can empower ourselves and help us build a kinder, more compassionate world.
This course is a culmination of everything I’ve learned as a writer. From Song to Story guides you through the process of writing your own story, and how to approach your craft through the art that inspires you. I can’t wait to see what you create <3
Course Overview
Introduction
A welcome to the course.
Module 1: From Idea to Premise
Your song serves as inspiration for your story. It sparks an idea. In this module, we’ll use that spark to uncover and generate more ideas that you will refer to as you develop a premise and draft your story.
Module 2: From Premise to Plot
In Module 2, we will practice the key elements of story structure and unfold the promise of your story’s premise in a way that is evocative and compelling for the audience.
Module 3: From Structure to Story
As we move from a structure to a drafted story, we will consider, how do you want this story to be told? What kind of experience do you want the audience to have? What’s the tone of the story? And how are these notions communicated through language?
Additional Applications
Additional methods to use From Song to Story in your writing practice.
Read a short story written with From Song to Story
"From Song to Story is honestly like no other writing course I’ve ever done. You form an intimate understanding of all components of the song to build an intricate foundation for a story. I feel so connected to this part of my artistic practice in a way I didn’t think was possible.”
-Samantha Garner, author of The Quiet Is Loud
The silence sounds wrong, feels wrong. I close my eyes and feel the soft cocoon holding my body. I curl my tail around myself. I take a deep breath. Unnatural. Comfortable. I want to return to my slumber, the softest dark.
Wait … my tail?
-From Stone Grown, based on “Cuckoo Cocoon” by Genesis. Read Stone Grown when you subscribe to Samantha’s newsletter!
FAQ
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From Song to Story is designed for writers of all experience levels, from beginners to novelists.
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From Song to Story is hosted here on my website. When you buy the course, you’ll be asked to make an account, and then you’ll be able to log-in to access the course on your computer, phone, or any other device.
You’ll also receive a .pdf version of From Song to Story.
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No problem! I have prompts in the course to help you find a song to base your story on.
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Keep an eye out for “Troubleshooting” prompts throughout the course to address possible challenges while you’re writing your story.
If you have any questions about the lessons or run into any technical issues, you can e-mail me at hello@katieliwriter.com
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This self-paced course guides you through the process to independently develop an idea, draft, and edit a final story, as well as develop tools to maintain your creative practice. For additional feedback, I provide developmental edits and manuscript consultations.