The 600 Pound Gorilla

In the distant past (2008), Mark A. Clements taught a six-class series entitled “The 600 Pound Gorilla.” Its premise was simple: there’s a hulking anthropoid in the room that many writers either ignore or fail to notice: they aren’t trying hard enough. They say “I’m done” too soon; “that’s fine” when it’s not; “I can’t do any better” when they can.

The truth is this: 1) the odds are excellent that you can make whatever you’re working on right now much better (more powerful, moving, beautiful, authentic, etc.) than you think; and 2) the most certain way to burn out or lose your way as a writer is to ever stop trying to improve. But before you can do better, you must first acknowledge the presence of the gorilla. Then you have to accept it. And then you must develop the skills to get the beast working with you rather than against you.

That’s what “The 600 Pound Gorilla” series is meant to do.

Now, as in 2008, it can benefit you no matter what stage of your writing career you’re in. But of course this is 2026, and things have changed: online publication, AI, new knowledge about reading, writing, motivation and creativity…it’s time for an update and a reboot.

Therefore, the new iteration of the Gorilla will cover topics including:

Passion: when it benefits you and when it doesn’t. When being satisfied is unsatisfactory.

The Fundamental Questions to ask yourself about yourself and your work.

Theme: understanding what you’re really writing about, and how it can change everything.

“Ploterization”: why plot and characterization are not enemies. How to make them work together.

Style: finding what makes you, you, and how to weaponize that power.

Originality: Losing your fear of pouring your true self into your writing.

Editing: yeah…you’re probably stopping too soon.

Dealing with publication: The Most Important Factor, Now and Forever.

And much more…

There will be lecturing. There will be discussion. There will be exercises. There will be questions and answers. There will be cupcakes (not really; to maximize opportunities for participation, this will be a remote extravaganza).

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