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Dissect picture book story structure to identify elements of the Hero's Journey
Explore how to land story beats and keep your characters' agency on track
Learn to outline a picture book story with essential storytelling junctures
Leave class knowing how to craft suspenseful page turns for an exciting, rewarding reading experience
About this course:
For novelists who'd like to see a microcosm of the hero's journey and for picture book writers who are creating a character-driven picture book and would like understand how 10-14 story beats can be achieved at a rewarding pace. In this one-day introduction, I'll cover Freytag's Pyramid and dissect several award-winning picture books that show a protagonist on the Hero’s Journey (a journey that is completed in 500 words or less!). Students will learn how to dissect their stories in terms of the western structure of the three-act play. They will also learn about characters in agency and how to land story beats—the pulse points that actively move a tale from the opening image, to the inciting incident, to breaking into each act and the rising action that goes with each beat. We'll get to "big gloom" and more. By the end of this class, students will have stretched their storytelling skills so that they are equipped to write exciting page turns—pages that feature a compelling protagonist who traverses a meaningful plot line at a rewarding pace.
Fall 2025 Schedule
Date & Time
Details
Format
Saturday 10:00AM - 1:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens October 11, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
Enrollment opens two weeks prior to the event. Enrollment limited; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.
This course is held via video teleconference. As such, instructors use Zoom to offer a live class meeting at the designated time. Students must be present at the course meeting time to participate in the class.
Course Requirements
Internet access required to access course materials.
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Sat Oct 25, 2025
10:00AM PT - 1:00PM PT
UCLA X Open
Explore the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.
Learn from successful writers. Finish a novel. Complete a screenplay. Publish poetry. Write with purpose and impact.
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