writing

Have you ever heard a writer talk about starting her book in the wrong place? What on earth are they talking about? How do you know you're starting in the right place? This workshop will help you figure out how and when you should begin your story. Many writers, particularly in the beginning...

Have you ever read a romance and reach the traditional 60-80% complete section and think, "That's it? That's what's going to keep these main characters apart?" I think we all have. The central theme in romance is, of course, love and reaching the Happy Ever After or Happy For Now. But the...

Without conflict there is no story. Your characters have to grow and they have to be challenged. They fall in love, break up and make up until the HEA or HFN. How do you keep the tension and conflict as they go through their story arc? What keeps them going and what conflicts do they have to...

One reason we come to fiction is to experience the changes characters go through. And, while the external journey from maid to princess or farmer to Jedi knight may create engaging challenges, we identify with characters because they learn how to trust others or master their tempers or become...

***FREE to all registered users. This group is what you make of it - it's a safe space for writers to meet and greet. Register to access the discussion. Once registered click on the Classroom Discussions tab.*** Welcome to Find Your Crew, where the mission is to bring like-minded...

Do you want to write a funny novel or short story? Or perhaps you'd like to add humor to the book you've already written? If so, then this is the course for you. Some of the areas covered in this two week course, include-- The difference between funny and humorous. What makes something fun to...

After eight years of developmental editing manuscript after manuscript, helping authors grow their stories and reach their potential, book editor Katie McCoach has discovered the 4 key elements that make up a compelling character narrative. Many of us have heard of Deb Dixon’s GMC (Goal...

This course will focus on the basic building blocks of every story; the scene. It’s a course that works bests for plotters, writers who outline their story, and pantsers, writers who have a mental hold on the scope of their story but perhaps not a detailed outline. Writers will learn how to set...

So you want to plan a novel. Are you more of a pantser? Are you allergic to outlines? Don’t know where to start? Just need a little help? Have no fear! Every novel has a few basic components. First, we’ll look at plot beats, the basic building blocks of a story, and think about ways to plan...

Want to pump out a well structured manuscript in less than 90 days? L.C. Hayden wants to share her first-draft blueprint with YOU. In this two-week workshop she will guide you through a series of exercises so that after you finish the workshop you can write, write, write! The importance of...

Character development using origin stories. What makes them the way they are? What experiences formed them? How to create protagonists' and antagonists' origin stories. What makes your character who they are – what were their beginnings? Archetypes and origin stories Using your characters'...

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to construct a thriller from beginning to end. Some of the topics covered are: What is a thriller and why are they so popular? The many different categories of thrillers Secrets of creating commercial story ideas Developing a ‘hot’ plot How to start your story...

Learn how to create a fictional case that readers won't be able to solve! Lesson One: Ineffective ways to create mystery - Learn commonly used methods that help prevent readers from solving a case - Understand why many readers dislike these methods - Learn how to catch them in...

You’ve finished the first draft of your novel. What next? Many writers find the revision process daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In this workshop, we’ll discuss practical ways to approach revision. I’ll focus on the big picture, rather than the little details, to make sure you’ve got a...

Are you seeking a coach and mentor who listens? Doesn't squash your writing style? And who provides positive, constructive feedback to meet your goals? As a certified coach with a background in education and over a decade of working with writers, my goal is to offer you an individualized...

Write a novel in a month? Who me? Yes, you! Learn tricks and techniques for getting the words of your WIP draft onto the page in the quickest, most efficient way possible, so that the story makes sense and requires the least amount of revision. Perfect for people planning on participating in...

Shows like Scandal and The Walking Dead pride themselves on the jaw dropping final few seconds of the show which have viewers eager to tune in the next week. Never hear another complaint about a cliffhanger ending again when you learn to plot your serialized novel like a season of a television...

Setting is often treated as just window dressing, but it can inform every part of a story, right down to plotting and pacing and how characters speak and behave. In this workshop, we’ll discuss how to turn Generic Town, USA, into a living, breathing place that your characters inhabit. We’ll...

The Pacific ocean, the deepest ocean on earth, is almost 7-miles deep. Can you imagine how many layers of this beautiful life-force are unlocked with every mile down? In this workshop, we’ll be applying the 7-Miles Deep process to understanding and unlocking the layers of Deep POV in your...

Telling isn't always a bad thing. There are ways to share information without using an info dump or using cliches. And there are ways to show the action by describing what the character is experiencing. Learn how to use both showing and telling without boring the reader or throwing them out of...