Hey everyone! I have teamed up with Wattpad and MasterClass to share a few great things I learned from my MasterClass instructors. In particular, I want to tell you about some tips & tricks to navigate writer's block, as well as ways I find inspiration in my creative writing process. MasterClass offers an immersive online experience that allows you to take lessons from the world's best in writing, culinary, film and more. You can learn more about MasterClass here! #Sponsored

Immediately, I was pulled into the MasterClass way of learning. I loved listening to the voices of my favorite authors and watching as they candidly discussed their craft. It was almost as if I was sitting on the opposite side of their desks during college office hours. As they teach, they weave relatable bits of their novels in with the content of their lessons, making the material easy to grasp and very inspiring. This personal method makes the learning experience feel collaborative and intimate.

https://youtu.be/lbMPDk7CF6g

I began my MasterClass journey with Margaret Atwood, because I loved The Handmaid's Tale. She shares very simple solutions to writer's block, encouraging writers to pick up the pen or sit at the keyboard no matter what they believe their output might be. One of my favorite quotes from her lesson is, "Do it however crummy you think the result might be, at least you're moving." I believe sometimes the pressure to create something great the first time often prevents me from writing anything at all, and it helps to remember writing anything is better than writing nothing.

In Margaret Atwood's Plot, Structure, and Point of View, she covers the childhood tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Using this commonly shared story, she helps to show how switching the point of view (speaking as the wolf, for example) dramatically shifts the feel of the entire story. I learned from this lesson that the most obvious character might not be the best choice to be the voice of the story. As soon as she began to tell the story from inside the wolf's belly, I leaned into my computer screen and wanted to know more.

Currently, I'm working on a thriller, so I also chose to attend a MasterClass with mystery and thriller author, David Baldacci. From him, I gained great insight and inspiration on finding stories in daily living. He shares how he connects the dots in everyday situations to create great story plots. In his MasterClass Finding the Idea, Baldacci describes how he came up with the storyline on the spot for one of his novels while being interviewed for NPR just by taking in his surroundings.

While under contract, one of my biggest struggles as a writer has always been creating outlines when my publisher has requested them. I have trouble knowing exactly where I want the story to go and like the freedom of being flexible as I create. Baldacci offers some guidance with this struggle in Outlining. He believes that writing the story is an ever-evolving process and that outlines should always be flexible because you can never be sure where a story is going. His tips and tricks for constantly adapting the story and making changes to the original outline were some of my favorite lessons from MasterClass so far.

Another great tip Baldacci offers is in Constructing Chapters. The idea is to use your first chapter as a touchstone. Your first chapter is always your most important chapter. It is the chapter that all the others are built on, so it is important that it makes sense with each additional chapter. A great tip is to always go back to the first chapter and reread it as you work your way through the rest of your story. I love this idea. I will definitely be using this in the future in my writing.

While I have just begun to dip my foot into the MasterClass waters, I can't wait to see what other great insight their instructors have to offer. I've already learned so much and gained many tools for my writing tool bag. I've excitedly added to My Classes, and I'm really looking forward to diving into the great content! Thank you Wattpad and MasterClass for this amazing opportunity.