Whether your manuscript is Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, High Fantasy, Steampunk, a mash-up, or something in-between, worldbuilding is a key element to a successful and immersive story. In this four-week course you will go over the various aspects to building a solid world, from where and when the story is set to the characters that populate […]
Toward the end of the twentieth century, the modern Civil Rights era was launched and as Sam Cooke sang, “A Change Gone Come.” The change came and the psychology of Black people in the United States underwent a sea change. As we will see in this class in the first week, there were several reasons […]
At Point Comfort in 1619, more than a dozen enslaved Black men were bought to the shores of Virginia and the history of Blackness in the United States was established. There are three distinct time periods to think about and I will address them, depending upon what you are writing about: 1619-1800, 1800-1865, 1865-1950. 1619-1800—Enslavement […]
As a historical fiction author, I have researched for years on legal issues my characters have encountered in their stories. In talking to readers of historical fiction, particularly regency romance, I’ve learned that many people have questions about some of the issues addressed in novels, as well as misunderstandings about inheritance and marriage laws (yes, […]
You’ve got your plot. You know your characters. You’ve filled your stories with goals and obstacles and conflicts, and oh boy, are the stakes running high. You’ve written a book that will surely jump off the shelves. BUT No matter how much you love your story, characters, and world, surprisingly, not everyone always feels the […]
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 […]
How to hook and retain readers by exploiting uncertainty Have you been told your character isn’t engaging or that ‘special something’ is missing from your story? The Create Page-Turning Tension workshop is for fiction writers who want to hook readers and compel them to keep turning pages all the way to the end. Uncertainty is […]
How to weave the past in without information dump telling Does your character or location have a fascinating history, but you’re unsure of the best way to express it? The Write Backstory With Confidence workshop is for fiction writers who want to avoid information dumps and use backstory to provide character motivation that resonates with readers. […]
How to combine showing action with effective telling The Master Emotive Storytelling workshop is for fiction writers who want to decipher the contradictions in the old ‘show don’t tell’ mantra so they can avoid author intrusion and maximize evocative actions and sensory details. Both showing and telling are valid tools. Showing creates drama and movement […]
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 […]
The very successful author, Christina Dodd once said, ‘Submitting your work is like getting on stage, pulling down your pants, and asking for comments.’ That is never truer than in face-to-face pitching. Let’s face it; the thought of it is enough to make the strongest shudder and run. So why do it? Because you believe […]
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 […]
Want to immerse your readers in your story from page one to the end? Want readers eager to read your next book and the next and the next? That’s Voice! For many popular authors creating an engaging, evocative, and enthralling Voice seems effortless. But try to evaluate your own voice? It’s hard to tell what […]
You know the feeling – when you start a book and immediately suspend disbelief to fall into the story world. As authors, we know that this isn’t easy to do. It takes more than a good scene. It takes a maestro of craft to pull it off. This is a writing master class. If you’re […]
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: […]
How to Write Dialogue with a Psychological Punch A proven way to improve any manuscript. Learn how to craft dialogue that carries power! What You'll Learn Dialogue Challenge Check your manuscript to see if your dialogue has the 11 essential ingredients of great dialogue. Dialogue Flaw Search Weed out the 13 most common dialogue flaws. […]
This is a masterclass on creating profitable Facebook Ads for authors who want to improve the ROI of their ads. Imagine spending a couple hundred dollars and making back thousands. Or knowing what your income will be month after month after month. Or building the advertising know-how and technical assets to make a viable bestseller […]
Conflict. Conflict. Conflict. We’ve heard it, we know it, we’ve gotta have it, but too often, agents, editors, critique partners, and editors scream, “Where is the conflict? We need to feel the tension” And worse. “There is no conflict in this story.” Even now, I hear heads thunking. I hear the cries of, “Why?” and […]
Tweet like a twit? Facepalm every time you check Facebook? Feel like a pinned bug on Pinterest? What's an author to do with all of the social media opportunities clambering for our attention? Confused by controversy? Troubled by trolls? You'll learn the skills to control your social media presence without losing your mind. Class includes […]
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