Non-fiction: Writing Advice

These two ebooks began life as email courses I offered through The Scriptorium Ezine, but they’ve been updated and reformatted to function as workbook guides.

The Two-Week Short Story: A Guide to a Fast First Draft

Do you have trouble planning, starting, or finishing short stories? Does it seem to take forever to get to the end of that first draft–if you ever do? If so, this ebook is for you.

Designed to help you plan and write solid first draft stories in just two weeks, the eight lessons in this ebook course will take you from the first idea brainstorming session all the way through the rough and rocky middle of your story, to deciding what type of ending is right and how to accomplish it. Through a variety of instructions, worksheets, checklists, and discussions, each lesson keeps you moving forward on your story at a steady pace. The structure assists you in writing every day for a two-week period, keeping you motivated and providing methods for avoiding blocks and other writing pitfalls.

Most stories get started but are never finished.

By using this plan, however, you can finish every story that you start. Solid first drafts are the raw material every writer needs. This ebook can help you complete one every time you start.

Former students of the email versions say*:

“…I made major changes in my writing from every lesson.”

“All topics were covered in simple, easy to comprehend language. The methods presented were very useful in all aspects of writing.”

“This is the greatest thing put together for the price. Keep up the amazing work.”

Short Story Workshop for One: A Workbook for Stronger Fiction

You’ve made it through that first short story draft…but you know it’s going to take a lot more work to turn that draft into a saleable manuscript. What you really need is a workshop experience, but time, money or other considerations won’t allow for that right now. The Short Story Workshop for One is the answer!

Four in-depth lessons will guide you through your story, identifying problem areas and helping you craft a more professional manuscript. The Workshop For One method breaks down the process of editing your story into manageable chunks, allowing you to focus your attention on one element of the story at a time. By guiding you to ask pertinent questions and evaluate the various facets of your story and your writing, redrafting as necessary, the lessons steer you toward a stronger, cleaner, more sophisticated draft. The chapters are structured to allow you to focus on one element of your story at a time, keeping you motivated without becoming overwhelmed.

Writing a first draft can be easy. Editing it into a great finished product takes special effort.

By using the writing plan outlined in this course, however, you can improve the writing in every story. Your first draft is your raw material. Get the guidance you need to turn that raw material into a finely polished piece.

*Quotes excerpted from exit surveys. Used with permission.