In movies, I could care less about a car chase scene or a lengthy fist fight, just give me a good story. I’m a sucker for a good story. More than once I’ve made a purchase that was entirely unnecessary because I could relate to the story within the advertising copy.

Last week I wrote that I have been appreciating my ‘nice life’ circumstances. And I do. I really do. However… I miss being productive, and I miss being engaged in a project. So, to remedy the situation, I looked around for a challenging project and by golly, I found one.

I’ve signed up for a sixteen week writing course. It’s a theoretical exploration of what elements need to be included to make a story a great story. First, there is an examination of the constraints and expectations of genre categories on a macro level. Then, a query on how to choose the best narrative device per story, depending on who you are telling the story to, and finally we get to the actual words on the page. 

If that sounds simple, it’s because I only comprehend the information at its simplest level. It is fairly theoretical and sometimes I am lost — adrift even after the second time through.

As part of the program, there is a writing exercise — not for marking or editing or feedback. The purpose is to write within the structure of a specific genre, narrative device, and scene. This semester, the task is to write an attack scene as if it were part of a long form epic story. 

Gosh, can we get any further from my writing style or favoured genres?

Don’t get me wrong here. I’ve read many a long form epic story with attack and battle scenes and enjoyed them thoroughly. It’s just I’ve never pictured myself actually writing one. Apparently last semester the writing task was to create a ‘cute-meet’ in a rom-com. Pffft… Why didn’t I sign up then?  

So far… I am struggling. All of the theory is looking like a big pile of rubble and making about as much sense. The course is into its third week and I can barely see a dim light at the far end of the tunnel. Hopefully that light will transform the pile of rubble into a clear structure I can benefit from. 

Struggling yes. But, “Golden Goddess on horseback,” she murmured, (that’s a favourite oath of my fictional character), I am enjoying the challenge. The story has started to spill out of my imagination onto the page. I hope you like epic attack scenes because I will publish it here. Eventually.

Stay safe everyone.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  Facebook or Twitter.