craft

Be Your Own Developmental Editor will provide the tools and techniques to help you see your manuscript the way an editor or agent might see it. We’ll ask the tough questions to guide you in making your manuscript the best it can be. You’ll use these tools to assess your story’s strengths and...

We’ve all heard it: Show, don’t tell. But what exactly does that mean? Award-winning author L. C. Hayden will address this and other important concerns. She will define the concept, show the reader how to tell which mode he’s in, and how to fix the problem. Hayden will then go an extra step...

Have you ever read a book where the characters were so vivid and real that you just couldn’t fathom that they weren’t real people? Have you ever wanted to write characters that people fall in love with? Then come join this class and find those characters just waiting to start their journey with...

In this month-long online class, New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight discusses how to write a beginning that will have readers clicking the BUY button. Knight examines the elements that engage the reader’s curiosity and make her care about your characters. She will explain how to...

Whether you have one character or a multitude, If you want to make sure your characters grow and change over the course of a series you need strong continuing arcs. Learn what a character arc is and how to show it. Also learn how to break your arcs down into per book increments to create a...

Once you have written your first draft, you know you are not done. You understand that you need to fix everything from plot holes to punctuation. The starting point is Macro-Editing - Editing the Big Picture. Many spend $1000s on Book Doctors, Finishers, and Developmental Editors to do this work...

Falling in love isn’t easy. It’s why we can write full length novels about characters in the process of doing so, with all the ups and down that entails. When someone is attempting to kill one of the characters or has been hired to keep one from being killed or kidnapped or needs to prove they...

The book world offers its readers a variety of mysteries. Some are good, some not so good, and some are excellent. What makes the difference? It all begins with its foundation: learning how to craft a successful mystery. An award winning mystery/thriller author will show you how a successful...

Writing a full novel is a daunting prospect. As a writer, you have to fill between 75,000 – 120,000 or even more words based on genre expectations. But how do you make sure you can avoid that dreaded saggy middle? How do you know that each chapter and scene zings with tension and keeps readers...

Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery as you learn the art of crafting your own memoir in just four weeks. This hands-on workshop is designed to guide you through the essential steps of memoir writing, helping you unearth the stories that define your unique life experiences...

Dialogue is an important part of books—whether it’s lighthearted banter revealing character or stoic words hiding real feelings. Characters must sound real and yet talk in a way that conveys their feelings, thoughts and moves the story along—and the truth is, that can often be at odds! How do...

When crafting a story, it’s only natural to focus on the protagonist and what makes them such an important character. But the antagonist is just as important to the story as the protagonist. Without the antagonist, there would be no conflict. Without conflict, there is no struggle. And without...

Learn the secrets of creating plot twists that surprise readers and keep them turning pages. Topics covered include: What is a twist and why are they important? Dissecting twists to see their inner workings. All about turns, reveals, reversals, and red hearings. Creating twists that move your...

A weak conflict is the number one reason why manuscripts get rejected. Learn how to make yours bulletproof. Too much internal conflict? Or not enough? What about external conflict? How do you make it believable? And which is more important? In this class, we’ll cover… · The various types...

If you love stories that make you swoon and want to write your own romance novel, this course is for you. Whether you have the germ of an idea or are already well into a draft, you'll discover what makes a page-turning, heartfelt romance novel by drawing on popular examples of the genre...

In this workshop, the focus will be on revising the end of your novel. You will have an opportunity to ask questions or post excerpts for feedback. The key takeaways will be: • Making the climax as exciting as possible • Finding the right spot to end the novel • Making the last three chapters...

In this workshop, the focus will be on the middle section of your novel. You will have an opportunity to ask questions or post excerpts for feedback. The key takeaways will be: • Avoiding/fixing the soggy middle • Making sure the middle builds tension in the novel • Keeping track of and...

In this workshop, the focus will be on revising the beginning of your novel. You will have an opportunity to ask questions or post excerpts for feedback. The key takeaways will be: • Great first lines/first pages that pull in readers • Choosing what information to include so that your reader...

Revision Breakdown (Three Parts) Revision is a difficult process that a lot of writers struggle with, so in this series of workshops, we’ll walk through the process, focusing on one section of the novel at a time, demystifying and the process and making it fun, too. Each workshop will focus on...

Have you ever wanted to write a series? Do you have an idea so big that there’s no way you can fit it into only one or two books? Then this class is for you. From writing a trilogy to writing a twenty plus book series this class will help you figure out where you want to do. - Figuring out your...