craft

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...

Dreading the moment when your manuscript comes back from the editor dripping in red lines? You can save both of you time and energy with a few basic steps. Sending your work to an editor can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it is possible to make the moment more celebratory than terrifying...

The tarot is a visual, symbolic and metaphorical tool that offers a unique and fun way to approach character development, setting, conflict, and plot. In this workshop, participants learn to use the tarot for blasting through frustrating writer’s blocks, uncovering character quirks and secrets...

You’ve plotted your novel, mapped your main character’s “arc” of change, and set your story in motion. Now for the hardest part of all: Figuring out what all these people should say to one another—and to themselves. The writer and poet Elizabeth Bowen once said, “Dialogue is what characters do...

Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Stephen King and Peter Straub, Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith— Although writing is often a solitary exercise, bringing the strengths of two writers together can be extremely rewarding. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of collaborating, from...

Using point of view effectively is critical for making readers care about your characters. Find out how to use this element to make your story stay with readers long after they put the book down. Discover… · The different types of point of view – when and how to use them. · Pros...