Courses: Classes for Writers
Self-paced classes can be accessed for eighteen months after purchase and allow you to go at your own pace. Read the materials and do the lessons when you have time. There is no instructor feedback, but exercises and answer keys help you understand how to put the principles into practice.
Instructor-led classes include feedback from the instructor, start and end on specific days, and have homework assignments that are due at specific times, but discussions are forum-based and asynchronous, meaning you can join in whenever you have a chance during the period the class is in session.
Writing Romance
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write romance novels | 4 lessons | Self-paced | Intermediate In this class, you’ll learn the basics of writing romance novels. Each lesson includes an assignment for you to do to practice your skills. The class covers: basic conventions of the genre (reader expectations) and why they’re important differences…
Finish Your Book Bootcamp
$30 (Members: $27) | How to finish your novel | 8 lessons | Self-paced I like to call this the What-Comes-After-NaNoWriMo Class. You’ve got a project that you may have made a good start on but it needs work. And you just can’t seem to get it finished. Maybe it isn’t a novel; maybe it’s…
Advanced Point-of-View and Perspective for Writers
$50 (Members: $45) | How to immerse readers in a story through the effective use of point-of-view and perspective | 2 lessons | Self-paced If you already know how to spot head-hopping and can explain why that first-person narrator is slowing down the pacing of a story (and what to do about it), this is…
Understanding Point-of-View and Perspective for Writers
$80 (Members: $72) | How to effectively use point-of-view and perspective in fiction | 4 lessons | Self-paced This class goes beyond the basics of head-hopping to dive deep into problems in perspective and POV. It covers: the possibilities and limits of various narrative points-of-view describes how other developmental problems are related to POV, such…
Essentials of Conflict for Writers
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write stories with good central conflicts | 4 lessons | Self-paced This class digs into what story conflict is, how authors create it (or don’t), and what you can do to fix it. It covers: how character development impacts conflict and how conflict impacts story structure the eternal trifecta…
How to Write Query Letters, Synopses, and More!
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write query letters, blurbs, pitches, and more | 4 lessons | Self-paced This class is meant for novelists who are interested in pursuing a traditional publishing path that requires query letters, synopses, and other author collateral. You’ll learn how to write: query letters elevator pitches for conference or online…
Beta Reads and Critique Partners
To join the Beta Reads and Critique Partner group, please register (it’s free). Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to post in the Beta Reads and Critique Partner forum, describing your project, whether you can pay for the beta read, are looking for a critique partner and so on (there is a forum post…
Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write science fiction and fantasy | 4 lessons | Self-paced In this class, you’ll learn the basics of writing science fiction and fantasy novels. The class covers: conventions of the genres and subgenres (reader expectations)—and why they’re important why the “what if?” matters what we mean by “speculative fiction”’;…
Writing Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write mystery, thriller, and suspense novels | 4 lessons | Self-paced This class walks you through writing the related genres of mystery, suspense, and thriller. It covers: Understanding genre conventions Creating a strong central conflict Keys to building tension and suspense Common problems in crime fiction Character development in…
Foundations of Storytelling for Writers
$80 (Members: $72) | How to write a novel | 4 lessons | Self-paced This class, written by a developmental editor, shows authors how to apply developmental editing principles to their own work. You’ll learn what concerns like “lack of a clear central conflict” and “poor character development” mean, how to find out if your…
Evolution of a Novel
$90 (Members: $81) | How the novel revision process works | 4 lessons | Self-paced | Intermediate For writers, editors, book coaches, and critique partners interested in learning about the revision process. Follow along as an author shows how her vision for a novel changes from the original draft to the final published version. Identify…
Query letter critique
A query letter is a sales tool used to interest a literary agent in representing your manuscript, or, more rarely, an acquisitions editor for a publishing company that accepts unsolicited manuscripts. Query letters are typically one page and focus on what the manuscript is about with a sentence or two devoted to the author’s background….
Synopsis critique
A novel synopsis is typically a three- or four-page summary outlining who the main characters in your novel are and what happens over the course of the story arc. (If you’re writing a nonfiction book, see the Nonfiction Book Proposal Critique option.) Literary agents usually request these, along with a query letter, as a preliminary…
Manuscript evaluation, up to 65,000 words
A manuscript evaluation is my feedback on your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses based on my experience as a book development editor, acquisitions editor, and literary agent. I evaluate fiction in the following genres: romance (all subgenres), mystery, thriller, suspense, fantasy (all subgenres) and most science fiction. I don’t evaluate horror, children’s, or YA. For other…
Manuscript evaluation, 65,001 to 100,000 words
A manuscript evaluation is my feedback on your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses based on my experience as a book development editor, acquisitions editor, and literary agent. I evaluate fiction in the following genres: romance (all subgenres), mystery, thriller, suspense, fantasy (all subgenres) and soft science fiction. I don’t evaluate horror, children’s, or YA. For other…
Book proposal critique
Nonfiction books are sold to traditional publishers based on a book proposal, not a full manuscript. For indie authors, book proposals are a great way to plan how you will write and promote your nonfiction book. I provide book proposal critiques, including critique of a sample chapter or two for self-help and how-to books. The…
Coaching for Editors and Writers
$175 Online Coaching for Editors and Writers. Both new and experienced editors sometimes need professional guidance in the craft of editing or in growing their editing business. Jennifer Lawler, an experienced editor, offers personal coaching to help. Coaching typically takes place via phone conversations (Zoom if you prefer) or through email. Types of coaching Jennifer…
