Ross Thomas Creations
SCOOL Storytelling Foundation
An eight-week online programme with practical masterclasses, weekly tasks and online community, covering everything you need to know about the principles of Storytelling, from experienced industry professional, CEO and Founder; Ross Thomas.
Course Outline
Each week, award - winning CEO and Founder; Ross Thomas, will lead you through a live webinar masterclass, that helps you get storytelling, with key instructions for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about storytelling and its core principles. You will be given weekly tasks to respond to the lessons you have learnt, that you can upload and share with us and your peers in the group, through a dedicated online community.
Course Structure
A breakdown of all topics, masterclasses and tasks each week on the course.
Topic:
LAUNCH
Session:
Intoduction to the course & Q&A
WEEK 1
Topic:
INTRODUCTION to STORYTELLING
Session:
The importance of storytelling
Elements of a story (plot, character, setting, conflict, theme)
Different types of stories (e.g., myths, fables, personal narratives)
Tasks:
Research and present on a favorite story or storyteller
Write a short personal narrative
Masterclass:
ROSS THOMAS
Discussion on the power of storytelling
WEEK 2
Topic:
DEVELOPING CHARACTERS
Session:
Creating compelling characters
Character arcs and development
Techniques for character description
Tasks:
Create a character profile
Write a scene focusing on character interaction
Masterclass:
Character development workshop
Feedback on character profiles
WEEK 3
Topic:
PLOT STRUCTURE
Session:
Understanding plot structure (beginning, middle, end)
Common plot structures (e.g., three-act structure, hero's journey)
Creating a plot outline
Tasks:
Outline a story using a chosen plot structure
Masterclass:
Plot structure analysis
Review of student plot outlines
WEEK 4
Topic:
SETTING and WORLD-BUILDING
Session:
Importance of setting in a story
Techniques for creating vivid settings
World-building for different genres
Tasks:
Describe a setting in detail
Create a world-building document for a story
Masterclass:
Setting and world-building workshop
Feedback on setting descriptions
WEEK 5
Topic:
DIALOGUE and VOICE
Session:
Writing realistic dialogue
Developing a unique narrative voice
Techniques for showing vs. telling
Tasks:
Write a dialogue-heavy scene
Experiment with different narrative voices
Masterclass:
Dialogue writing exercises
Review of student dialogue scenes
WEEK 6
Topic:
THEME and SYMBOLISM
Session:
Identifying and developing themes
Using symbolism to enhance storytelling
Integrating theme and symbolism into a story
Tasks:
Identify themes and symbols in a favorite story
Write a scene incorporating a chosen theme and symbol
Masterclass:
Theme and symbolism discussion
Feedback on thematic writing
WEEK 7
Topic:
EDITING and REVISING
Session:
The importance of editing and revising
Techniques for self-editing
Working with feedback
Tasks:
Revise a previously written scene
Provide constructive feedback on a peer's work
Masterclass:
Editing and revising workshop
Peer review session
WEEK 8
Topic:
FINAL PROJECT and REVIEW
Session:
Final project guidelines
Review of key storytelling concepts
Tasks:
Complete a final story project incorporating all learned techniques
Masterclass:
Presentation of final projects
Course wrap-up and feedback
What happens after you enrol?
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Introduction to the course and Q&A will take place via live stream; presented by Ross Thomas, on the Monday after the date you join the course at 9am GMT. We will confirm via email.
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In the meantime, source any little bit of kit you might need and try different storytelling apps before you get going.
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Masterclasses, Tasks and Feedback will be delivered every 7 days until the end of the course.
What happens when you complete the course?
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Every live - streamed weekly Masterclass will be recorded and sent to you via email as an mp4 attachment; allowing you to be able to watch and re-watch everything as many times as you'd like!
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You will have access to the community pages of the course for 7 months!
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On successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate; serving as a boost to your portfolio for direct employment, or succession with us in projects with our clients!
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for those who have always wanted to discover storytelling but didn’t know where to start, or those with storytelling experience looking for insider knowledge and lessons from an industry-leading professional.
What equipment do I need?
It is completely up to you what app or equipment you might have at home to take part in this course, but here are some suggestions:
Wattpad:
A popular platform for writers and readers, Wattpad allows users to share their stories and discover new ones from a global community.
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https://www.intractive.app/post/best-interactive-storytelling-software-tools.
Episode:
This app offers interactive stories where you can make choices that affect the outcome, making it a fun and engaging way to experience storytelling.
https://www.unite.ai/best-ai-story-generators/.
Storybird:
Great for visual storytelling, Storybird lets you create art-inspired stories and share them with others.
https://inspirationfeed.com/digital-storytelling-apps/.
Tales Writer:
This app focuses on interactive fiction, allowing you to create and read stories where your choices shape the narrative.
https://www.intractive.app/post/best-interactive-storytelling-software-tools.
Hooked:
Known for its chat-style storytelling, Hooked presents stories in the form of text message conversations, making it a unique and immersive experience.
If you have any further questions or concerns; please get in touch at rossthomascreations@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!