mini course
How Josiah Wrote 3 Key Scenes in A Study of Shattered Spells
Learn actionable strategies you can use t0 elevate your own stories.
Struggle to Apply Writing Techniques to Your Stories?
Sometimes the missing ingredient is seeing these techniques in action.
In this one-hour video course, Josiah DeGraaf breaks down three key scenes in A Study of Shattered Spells to explain what writing techniques he used to craft each scene, and how he overcame various story obstacles that came up during the drafting process.
You’ll learn:
- How to make a deeply flawed character sympathetic
- How to present your characters with moral dilemmas that make readers think
- How to weave scenes together so they reach an emotional crescendo
You won’t just hear about how to do this—you’ll also get tangible examples of what implementing them looks like.
Learn How Josiah Wrote:
Kalina's First Real Conversation with Emil (Chapter 10)
With a character as complicated as Emil, how do you make him sympathetic while also showcasing his real flaws? Josiah walks you through the key techniques he used to showcase both sides of Emil’s character.
Kalina's Battlefield Speech Dilemma (Chapter 33)
How do you use moral dilemmas to both increase suspense and explore challenging themes? Josiah explains the techniques he used to effectively set up one particular moral dilemma and reveal characters’ true motivations.
Kalina's Dark Night of the Soul (Chapter 49)
How do you combine multiple scenes into one chapter while keeping a consistent tone? Josiah unpacks how he wove multiple short scenes together to advance the plot while pushing Kalina to the breaking point right before the story’s climax.
What Makes This Course Different
Teaches writing techniques from real scenes—it’s not just abstract theory
Shows you exactly what each line and moment does to build a scene from the ground up
Short, focused, and without any fluff so you can quickly apply these tools to your writing
About the Instructor
Josiah DeGraaf is the author of A Study of Shattered Spells and the Program Director of the Young Writer’s Workshop. Over the years, he’s taught thousands of writers how to hone their craft and impact readers, including at conferences like Taylor University’s Professional Writers Conference, Write-to-Publish, and PenCon. He also co-founded Story Embers and oversees admissions for the Author Conservatory.
He loves helping aspiring storytellers move from head knowledge to actual working skill so they can make a difference in readers’ lives. Enroll in this course to learn how he crafts stories.
Get the Practical Tips & Examples You Need to Elevate Your Story
Many writers understand in theory what a good story looks like. But when they try to apply those lessons to their own stories? Something just doesn’t click.
This course is designed to help you bridge that gap by walking you through the exact ways Josiah applied different techniques to craft scenes that resonate with readers.
Sign up for the course today to discover how to craft stronger scenes.
Not satisfied with your purchase? Email me within thirty days to get a complete refund!
