Lyceum Series: David Hopkins – Solving Act II Problems In Long-Form Fiction

Welcome to the lyceum. These free, monthly workshops are held on the third Saturday of the month, and offer writers of every genre and skill level an opportunity to learn, experiment and develop their craft. We hope you’ll join us!

Whether you’re a novice or a published author with years of experience, writing long-form fiction (e.g., novel, novella, play, film, or comic book) is always hard. Most people struggle with the second act, the middle of the story, sometimes referred to as the “messy middle.” It’s where we fear boring our reader and losing the plot. We know how it begins and ends, but what do we do in-between? Much of this frustration comes from a misunderstanding of plot structure. The seminar experts give you a map, which works fine as an analytical tool, but it does very little to help you make meaningful choices during the second act.

In this two-hour workshop, we will learn how to write second acts that engage your audience and build tension. We will explore the works of Shakespeare (no prior knowledge necessary) and some contemporary examples to see how these storytellers approach the middle. Become a master of the middle and rediscover the joy of writing long-form fiction.

David Hopkins was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of the Dryad’s Crown, a story set in the vast world of Efre Ousel. In addition to his writing, he also has an interest in Shakespeare, medieval history, Dungeons & Dragons, and Witcher 3. David lives in Texas with his wife, artist and designer, April Hopkins. They have two daughters, Kennedy and Greta, and a dog named Moose.