In this 3-week online class, we will explore the inner workings of seven major genres, diving deeply into reader expectations and deconstructing quintessential examples. We will look at narrative beats for each genre and discuss the use of practical frameworks for crafting or editing genre fiction to ensure alignment with genre norms. In-class exercises that lead us through deep work will allow you to apply course concepts to a work in-progress. A combination of peer and teacher feedback—including a formal critique of your story outline or an excerpt of your prose—will further your thinking.

“Writing doesn’t have to be a labor of love,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “It can be deeply rewarding on many levels. It’s time for us to reject the starving artist narrative and embrace that there is money to be made. There are also accolades to be earned, fun to be had, and deeply gratifying experiences that await us when we understand how to envision, plan for, and achieve our writing goals.”

“Writing a novel is such a big, emotional undertaking,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “A lot of authors make clouded decisions the closer they get to the end. Some turn into perfectionists who edit and re-edit for months or years before calling a manuscript complete or putting their work out there; others hire the wrong help and receive bad advice; others rush too quickly down the path to publication without a good understanding of industry. I wanted to teach a class that would address all of that.”

“Writing doesn’t have to be a labor of love,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “It can be deeply rewarding on many levels. It’s time for us to reject the starving artist narrative and embrace that there is money to be made. There are also accolades to be earned, fun to be had, and deeply gratifying experiences that await us when we understand how to envision, plan for, and achieve our writing goals.”

In this 3-week online class, we will explore the inner workings of seven major genres, diving deeply into reader expectations and deconstructing quintessential examples. We will look at narrative beats for each genre and discuss the use of practical frameworks for crafting or editing genre fiction to ensure alignment with genre norms. In-class exercises that lead us through deep work will allow you to apply course concepts to a work in-progress. A combination of peer and teacher feedback—including a formal critique of your story outline or an excerpt of your prose—will further your thinking.

In this online class, we will explore how romantic sub-plots can be used in stories outside of the romance genre to hook more readers and deepen their emotional investment in your fiction. You will work toward building a fleshed-out romantic sub-plot for your work-in-progress or story in the planning stage. Drawing from iconic examples, you will use exercises in- and out-of-class to craft romantic arcs for both of your love interests—even if neither is the protagonist.

“Authors are under increasing pressure to land on the right side of history as it pertains to characterizations, story themes, and personal views,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “Readers, critics, and industry demand cultural and social awareness. When authors get it wrong, the stakes are high.” It begs the question: how can authors eliminate their own blind spots and biases and turn each project into an opportunity to write more evolved work?

“Writing doesn’t have to be a labor of love,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “It can be deeply rewarding on many levels. It’s time for us to reject the starving artist narrative and embrace that there is money to be made. There are also accolades to be earned, fun to be had, and deeply gratifying experiences that await us when we understand how to envision, plan for, and achieve our writing goals.”

“Authors are under increasing pressure to land on the right side of history as it pertains to characterizations, story themes, and personal views,” says instructor Kilby Blades. “Readers, critics, and industry demand cultural and social awareness. When authors get it wrong, the stakes are high.” It begs the question: how can authors eliminate their own blind spots and biases and turn each project into an opportunity to write more evolved work?

In this online class, we will explore how romantic sub-plots can be used in stories outside of the romance genre to hook more readers and deepen their emotional investment in your fiction. You will work toward building a fleshed-out romantic sub-plot for your work-in-progress or story in the planning stage. Drawing from iconic examples, you will use exercises in- and out-of-class to craft romantic arcs for both of your love interests—even if neither is the protagonist.

Marketing feels like an albatross, doesn’t it? Always heavy around your neck, the sharp tip of its curved beak impossible to ignore as it digs into your skin. For most authors, it’s a burden. Even marketing geeks—people who actually like this stuff—struggle to find the time to write, as well as market, their books.