{"id":24963,"date":"2025-11-11T22:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T22:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.odysseyworkshop.org\/?page_id=24963"},"modified":"2026-06-21T18:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T18:11:08","slug":"story-openings-that-engage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.odysseyworkshop.org\/odyssey-online\/webinars\/story-openings-that-engage\/","title":{"rendered":"Story Openings That Engage"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1780276274236{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: -20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1601481581634{margin-top: -20px !important;background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.59) !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Story Openings That Engage” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:50|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

April 12, 2026<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

SOLD OUT<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Deadline: April 1, 2026, or when spaces are filled” font_container=”tag:h6|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1762893872415{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_btn title=”Register” style=”flat” shape=”round” color=”info” align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.odysseyworkshop.org%2Fodyssey-online%2Fupcoming-classes%2Fwebinar-registration%2F|title:Webinar%20Registration”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”2″ equal_height=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1761769062053{background-color: #71CFF7 !important;}”][vc_icon type=”material” icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-person_pin” color=”black” size=”lg” align=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Instructor:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1573744952620{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1762894065150{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Scott H. Andrews<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1573678902744{background-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_icon type=”material” icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-show_chart” color=”black” size=”lg” align=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Level:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1573744991201{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1601486079560{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Intermediate<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1761769071616{background-color: #71CFF7 !important;}”][vc_icon type=”material” icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-timer” color=”black” size=”lg” align=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Live Webinar:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1762894075214{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1762894091728{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

2 pm-5 pm EDT
\nSunday, April 12<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1573678972062{background-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_icon type=”material” icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-attach_money” color=”black” size=”lg” align=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Tuition:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1573745025008{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1762894098915{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

$89.00<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1611077362531{margin-top: 10px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1663435580984{background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/6″][vc_icon icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-info-circle” color=”peacoc” size=”xl” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1573763435088{margin-top: 10px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5\/6″][vc_custom_heading text=”Webinar Description” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1762894109747{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1762894137214{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]A great opening draws the reader into the story, but every subgenre, style, and story presents different challenges for crafting an opening that’s best for it. Is your opening making the promise to readers that you plan for the story to deliver? Are you setting up the world or character or theme elements that you want the story to develop (or subvert)? Are you controlling aspects like the focus, exposition, and perspective to steer the reader where you want them to go (and not where you don’t)? Scott H. Andrews, multiple Hugo and World Fantasy Award-finalist editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies<\/em> magazine, will break down openings from short stories across a range of subgenres and styles to reveal methods of creating opening paragraphs that engage the reader. He\u2019ll share factors to consider in deciding where best to take an opening after that critical paragraph. And he\u2019ll explore strategies to shape a story\u2019s opening to fit your story and its audience.<\/p>\n

The three-hour webinar will be comprised of a two-hour lecture followed by a one-hour question-and-answer session.<\/p>\n

The webinar is intended for writers of short stories of fantasy, science fiction, or horror. Yet openings are important in all short fiction, so writers of other genres could benefit from this webinar and would be welcome.<\/p>\n

The webinar will be most valuable for intermediate writers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Registration:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff” google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1762894322009{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #a8a8a8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]To register, click here<\/a>. Note that you are registering to attend the live webinar.<\/p>\n

This is not an application process as with Odyssey’s online courses but a simple registration, and you will be asked to submit payment when you register.<\/p>\n

Attendance is limited to 50 students, so the maximum may be reached before the deadline. If it is, the registration process will be disabled.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Handout:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff” google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1762895450529{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #a8a8a8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]Before the webinar, a handout will be provided via email.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Attendance:” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff” google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1762895477757{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #a8a8a8 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=””]Students are expected to arrive on time and to behave in a professional and responsible manner.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”2″ equal_height=”yes” disable_element=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1573679714515{background-color: #eaeaea !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Handout:” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23212021″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Before the webinar, a handout will be provided via email.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1601487142147{background-color: #eaeaea !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Attendance:” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23212021″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Students are expected to arrive on time and to behave in a professional and responsible manner.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1573756126243{background-color: #d6d6d6 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Technical Requirements:” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23212021″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]Make sure your computer fulfills the Zoom requirements. You can find them here: https:\/\/support.zoom.us\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/201362023-System-requirements-for-Windows-macOS-and-Linux<\/a>. While you can join the class meetings from supported tablets and mobile devices, Odyssey recommends you use a desktop or laptop computer for full functionality.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1573680739040{margin-top: 10px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”17049″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Instructor: Scott H. Andrews” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23212021″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Friyria.blogspot.com%2F||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text css=””]Scott H. Andrews<\/a> lives in Virginia with his wife, two cats, thirteen guitars, a dozen overflowing bookcases, and hundreds of beer bottles from all over the world. He writes, teaches college chemistry, and is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the ten-time Hugo Award finalist and World Fantasy Award-winning online fantasy magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

He is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. His literary short fiction won a $1000 prize from the Briar Cliff Review<\/em>, and his genre short fiction appeared in Space & Time, Crossed Genres<\/em>, and Ann VanderMeer’s Weird Tales<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Scott has taught writing at Odyssey, Writefest, and online for Odyssey Online Classes, Clarion West, and Cat Rambo Academy. He has lectured on short fiction, secondary-world fantasy, editing, magazine publishing, audio podcasting, heavy metal, and beer on dozens of convention panels at multiple Worldcons, World Fantasy conventions, and regional conventions in the Northeast and Midwest. He is a nine-time finalist and 2019 winner of the World Fantasy Award and a three-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form, and he celebrates International Stout Day at least once a year.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1761768395000{background: #f6f6f6 url(https:\/\/odysseyworkshop.org\/newsite\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/84-844200_gray-quotation-mark-quotation-mark.jpg?id=17008) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Reactions from Scott H. Andrews’ Students” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%23212021″ google_fonts=”font_family:Arimo%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=””][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDJTIxLS1UZXN0aW1vbmlhbHMlMjBmb3IlMjBTY290dCUyMEFuZHJld3MuJTIwVG8lMjBlZGl0JTIwZ28lMjB0byUyMFRlc3RpbW9uaWFscyUyMC0lMjBWaWV3cyUyMGluJTIwdGhlJTIwbWFpbiUyMFdQJTIwbWVudS0tJTNFJTBBJTVCdGVzdGltb25pYWxfdmlldyUyMGlkJTNEJTIyNSUyMiU1RA==[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1780276274236{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: -20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1601481581634{margin-top: -20px !important;background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.59) !important;*background-color: rgb(255,255,255) !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Story Openings That Engage” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:50|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=””][vc_column_text css=””] April 12, 2026 [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””] SOLD OUT [\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Deadline: April 1, 2026, or when spaces are filled” font_container=”tag:h6|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1762893872415{margin-top: 0px […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":108,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24963","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t