Self-editing is hard, even on a good day when you have all your spoons and are ready to jump into your manuscript with a handful of highlighters and a prayer. Using some Author Alchemy you can make the tools you use every single day work for you. Macros, or written command built into Word to […]

This power-packed class provides writers with hands-on tools for making character descriptions fresh and deep and powerful. We’ll cover: What to avoid What’s smart to include Using Deep Editing techniques Making your characters unforgettable How to be strategic with style and structure Descriptions for main characters and supporting characters Using description to share the POV […]

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. That’s where a developmental editor comes in. Developmental editing is the first stage in preparing your manuscript for professional eyes. It helps you to build […]

A just-for-you-intensive writing mentorship

This class is about openings. All your openings, not just the first opening in your book. The opening of your first chapter needs to carry powerful content, and powerful structure and style. The opening of every scene and every chapter needs to hook the reader with content and structure and style too. This course covers: […]

Three Prerequisites, Online Courses or Lecture Packets: Empowering Characters' Emotions Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist Fab 30: Advanced Deep Editing, A Master Class Do you want to dig deep into deep editing? Do you want to work in an advanced class with […]

Your words shine and each line glisten. But you’re still getting rejections! Pantsers and plotters, at some point you’re going to have to step back from the words, the lines, and even the paragraphs, and look at the big picture issues. Diving deep into developmental edits is an intense fourteen lecture course for those writers […]

Revision Boot Camp or Revision Retreat: You Decide You’ve got that first draft done or almost done. Or maybe you’re on your 2nd, 3rd, or LAST revision and you’re working toward the finish line. You’re ready for REVISION BOOTCAMP. Sign up.  Get your marching orders. Working with other recruits attack your revisions.  Or. . . […]

Prerequisites: Empowering Characters’ Emotions Deep Editing:  The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More To meet the prerequisites, ECE and Deep Editing may have been taken as on-line courses, or as independent study with Lecture Packets. Lesson Plan: Part 1:  Digging Deep into the EDITS System Part 1 —  Addresses The Big Picture and the Nuances […]

DEEP EDITING is for the writer who wants to psychologically impact the subconscious of the reader. For the writer who wants to learn fresh editing techniques. For the writer who wants to edit for hook-the-reader power. Participants will: Learn the EDITS System and take it deeper. See the interplay of patterns on the page and analyze what’s needed to […]

Want to add a psychological punch to your writing and editing? Want to learn how to capture the full range of body language on the page? Want to turn your work into a page-turner by powering up emotion and hooking the reader viscerally? Look forward to learning: The EDITS System Basic, complex, empowered, and super […]

A mini-version of the longer month-long Revision class. Online only class that offers hands-on help revising a manuscript. We will work on chunks at a time, with feedback and critiquing from New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump. The class covers plot, character, and show, not tell, but offers less homework and feedback than the […]

A one-month online only class that offers hands-on help revising a manuscript. We will work on chunks at a time, with feedback and critiquing from New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump. The class will cover four main components of revision: plot structure, character depth, conflict and motivation, and show, not tell. Class size is […]

Sample edit, feedback, and coaching from a professional editor. Lessons cover preparing, responding to, finding, and choosing an editor. Interactive feedback gives you technical fine points and recommendations as well as critique and encouragement. Class members follow each other’s work and learn together.