In England, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, fairies were called elves. Fairy is a word borrowed from French. Walt Disney would have you believe that fairies are sweet little creatures with wings and wands, helpful entities like Tinkerbell and the Tooth Fairy. Walt was wrong. In many lands people believe it's not wise to […]

Have you ever imagined how history could have turned out differently? What would the world have looked like if the Nazis had won the Second World War, the South had won the American Civil War, or the US had lost the Cold War? Alternate histories challenge and inspire us to think about what might have […]

Where is the road to a New York Times bestseller? Let me point you in the right direction—write a fantasy! Different sources of fantasy have inspired a torrent of novels and films. I’m sure you’re familiar with Rowling’s Harry Potter novels or G.R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. Or perhaps you’ve read Guy Gavriel Kay’s The […]

Do you want to kick your book’s impact into high gear? Grab your reader’s attention and never let it go? Create a pace for your story that thrills your reader to the end and has them one-clicking the next book? Create great action scenes! This month long course, applicable to writers at any stage in […]

Have you ever thought of writing flash fiction, but didn’t, because you didn’t know where to start? Writing short can be tricky – you have to make every word count to convey a compelling, complete story in 100-1500 words. Laura will teach you how, helping you decide what to write about, how to develop standout […]

Despite ghostwriting’s deep historical roots and thriving modern practice in the publishing industry, ghostwriting is still largely cloaked in secrecy. Writers often weigh the allure of additional income, creative freedom, and a chance to grow their craft in a risk-free environment against what literary purists believe is an exercise in deception. Art may be a […]

There is nothing worse than an awkward sex scene. Many authors, who want to write romance feel pressured to include sex scenes in their stories, even if they aren't well suited to write Tab A into Slot B. That's why they should take this class, so they can write on the "sweet side." This class […]

Comic books and graphic novels are nothing new but, in today's publishing world, they've become a fantastic way to get your story out there. In fact, graphic novels have seen phenomenal growth – a sales surge of up to 15% -- in the last four or five years. Even better? You can write a graphic […]

What makes a novel young adult? Is it just the age of the protagonist? It’s so much more! This course will demystify the teen world and help you write believable characters—one your young readers can relate to and root for. Learn the keys to crafting a novel solidly in YA, which goes far beyond the […]

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? Come join historian Hugh Gordon as he shows which conspiracies can be proven, and others that remain in […]

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 […]

Whether your characters are soaring through space on a ship or through the sky on the back of a dragon, this four-week course will go over the basic elements of Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories. What We’ll Cover: The main elements of Fantasy and Sci-Fi stories including creating dynamic characters, a compelling plot, and stand-out settings […]

Fantasy stories can take you into other worlds where you can fight pirates, soar on the back of a dragon, or go on a quest. There could be magic, adventure, romance, daring deeds, and great beats. Over the course of four weeks, we'll go in-depth on how to build a compelling fantasy story including worldbuilding, magical […]

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. This class, taught by an author/editor who has published […]

Want to write a New York Times Bestseller? Thrillers, mysteries, and suspense novels consistently rank in the top 25 books on the NYT bestseller list. Some of the biggest authors in the world write dangerous novels—James Patterson, Agatha Christie, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, and John Grisham to name only a few. Writing a good book […]

Learn the musts of writing a series! In this course, you will design your series bible, create the eleven items it must include (listed below), and learn series-writing tips from award-winning authors, including Bella Andre Romily Bernard Laura Bradford Allison Brennan Diana Cosby Vicky Dreiling Angie Fox Adrienne Giordano Diana Groe Charlotte Hubbard Darynda Jones […]

Slam your elbow on a table top and you’ll get up close and strip-down, naked personal with the location of your funny bone. Unfortunately, you’ll also discover there’s nothing funny about that instrument of torture. It’s a sensitive little sucker. The funny bone takes joy in creating not laughter but pain. Unless…you’re a comedian. Comedians […]

There are so many questions when you begin (or get in the middle of!) writing historical fiction. What should I research? When should I research? How much research should I put in the book? Why don’t my characters feel historical? Why does my prose seem to clash with my story? Writing good historical fiction means […]

Romance novels comprise nearly half the mass market paperback sales, according to Romance Writers of America. If you are interested in becoming a part of this happily ever after industry, or just want to learn how to add a love story to your mystery, thriller or other genre novel, take a germ of an idea […]

Ever thought about writing your OWN story? Memoirs and autobiographies are the perfect way to connect with your family, to tell your story your way, and to create a lasting memory of who you are. In this class, we’ll: Explore the difference between an autobiography and a memoir Use themes to discover and organize memories […]