The goal of The Sizzling, Scintillating Synopsis through lessons, assignments, and plenty of feedback is for you to come away with a sizzling, scintillating synopsis. A synopsis that will get the attention of an agent, editor, or contest judge and prove you’re a professional and talented story teller. This class is for anyone who would like a surefire way to plot your novel with all the necessary beats, characters arc, relationship arc, and the added bonus of a finished synopsis. No more moaning. Sign up.  Learn how to create a stellar synopsis.

Want to write a novel set in Scotland? A New York Times bestseller?? How about a series? Scottish stories are wildly popular after the successful novels of Diana Gabaldon: Outlander, Fly in Amber, Voyager, followed by six more huge books which tell the adventures and trials of Jamie Fraser and Claire. In Clans of Scotland, Sheila Currie will provide information about the names of the clans, their locations, and their feuds and fights. You’ll also gain insights about daily life: making a living, keeping families strong and how to marry. Marriage was different in the Highlands. Very different.

Come join historian Hugh Gordon in Connecting the Dots: Conspiracy Theories in History and Writing as he shows which conspiracies can be proven, and others that remain in the shadows. Today it seems like conspiracies and conspiracy theories are everywhere. Do you want to add shadowy organizations and secret plots to your writing? Why not look at real conspiracies from history to feed your own dark designs? You will learn about government plots and other beliefs that stretch the imagination. Learn how to make your reader uncover a truth that can fit with any conspiracy in history.

Creating Anthologies, taught by an author/editor who has published numerous anthologies and collections, will go into the nitty-gritty of the "back side" of publishing anthologies. Anthologies are the "hot" item lately, giving authors a chance to collaborate and create amazing themed books. The writing side is usually pretty easy for an author, but what about all the details? A partnership can be a real problem if the business side isn't addressed. Anthologies are worth the trouble, and the benefits can be enormous. It just takes a little planning.

10 People. 20 Pages. Deep Developmental Edits.

Editing your manuscript to get it ready for an agent or editor requires more than just crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s.

Developmental editing is the first stage in preparing your manuscript for professional eyes. It helps you to build complex characters, checks that your pacing is not boring the reader, and makes sure you’ve plugged all those pesky plot holes.

In Dazzling Developmental edits, you will work one-on-one with a professional editor who will help you learn the difference between a developmental edit and a copy edit, how to accept criticism when it stings, and learn what to expect from your very first developmental edit.

Class Syllabus:

Writers have to keep track of so much information! Overflowing inboxes, lost maps, and what color were my hero's eyes anyway? With Digital Organization Skills for Authors, enter the modern age with digital tools to help organize everything from scraps of paper, future story ideas, world-building details, or the best reviews you've ever received!

So, you have an idea for a comedy screenplay? Are you in the middle of one? Have you completed several? Make ‘em Laugh is a class for both experienced and beginning writers. If you’d like to learn about nuances of feature-length comedy films and apply them to your own funny ideas, then you’ve found the right place. We’d love to have you join us.

Scenes are the building blocks of your book, and sequels are the glue that bring those scenes together. The trouble is knowing how to create an effective sequel that keeps the pacing and tension running, but also gives the characters and readers a little room to breathe. Learn the best balance of Scene and Sequel and how to use them to easily ramp up the tension and conflict in your novel in this interactive class with New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump. This two week workshop will also answer the questions of how Scene and Sequel work with an easy exercise to show new writers the basics of this story building block.

Do you want a structured overview of the writing craft(s)? Are you interested in learning the psychology of storytelling? What about getting a storytelling edge by learning the secrets of reader engagement? The Eight Crafts of Writing goes over Big Idea, Genre, Narrative, Story Outline, Characterization, World Building, Scene & Chapter Structure, and Prose.

Are you still trying to figure out Steampunk?  Do you have an idea for a Steampunk story but aren't sure what to start?  Are you in the middle of a Steampunk manuscript and need a little help?

Whether you just want to learn what all the buzz is about or have specific spots you need to work on, "Writing Steampunk from Aether to Zeppelin" can help.

Grab your brass goggles and parasols join us while we learn about Steampunk and the mechanics of a Steampunk story.

We all know what it’s like to pick up a book and be sucked into the fictional world. You sense that you can trust the author and suspend disbelief to go on a journey. But how do your favorite authors do that? In Your First Five Pages, you will have lessons and homework. You will get input from the instructor as well as other students. You will be expected to give feedback to others, as well. You will walk away with a solid, compelling, well-polished start to your novel.