Quick Starts
Story Outlining Made Simple
In this introductory plotting course, you will complete a full, working plot outline in seven lessons. The course includes free downloadable, printable worksheets, (expanded and improved from Version 1).
Comprehensive Courses
My complete, no-fluff, step-by-step writing system: The exact process I use to go from "no idea" to completed manuscript, with another on the way. Includes hands-on practice and live workgroups for every lesson.
Short Courses
With this complete, fun, practical workbook, you'll build a solid plot in about a day. Now includes downloadable, printable worksheets.
Available from this site in PDF, Kindle, and ePub format (one purchase covers all formats).
Invent good names for your worlds, characters, and places--in fifteen minutes. Create a complete working language--or just the parts you need for your story. Add depth to your worldbuilding. Discover new concepts your characters think and use--that don't translate into English. Change the way you look at the way we all communicate.
All in about five hours.
With this complete, fun, practical workbook, you'll develop the essentials of governments, religions, home life, taboos and duties, personal and group interactions and conflicts, as you need them---for ANY time period, any world, any species (including the world made up of you, your friends and family, and those neighbors you just don't get.
Includes downloadable, printable worksheets.
Available from this site in PDF, Kindle, and ePub format (one purchase covers all formats).
With this in-depth, fun, practical workbook, you'll be able to develop compelling, complex characters in about ten minutes. Now includes downloadable, printable worksheets.
Available from this site in PDF, Kindle, and ePub format (one purchase covers all formats).
Workshops
How to Think Sideways DIRECT
Lessons, plus included downloadable worksheets linked from the back of each lesson
Individual lessons available through this link
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 1-4: the complete Thinking: Ideas section.
- LESSON 1: How to Start Writing a Book, and Never Fear the Blank Page Again
- LESSON 2: How To Discover Your Writing "Sweet Spot"
- LESSON 3: How to Generate Ideas on A Deadline
- LESSON 4: How to Recognize and Build on Good Ideas
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 5-9: the complete Thinking: Planning section.
- LESSON 5: How to Define Your Writing Project's Needs
- LESSON 6: How to Discover (or Create) Your Story's Market
- LESSON 7: How to Invent Your EXCLUSIVE Self-Publishing Genre
- LESSON 8: How to Develop Your Personal Writing Project System
- LESSON 9: How to Plan Your Project Without Killing Your Story
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 10-14: the complete Thinking: Beginnings section.
- LESSON 10: How to Write from Inside Your Story: The Art of Standing In Your Map
- LESSON 11: How to "Plan" Story Surprises That Surprise Even You
- LESSON 12: How to Create Compelling Queries, Proposals, and Sample Chapters
- LESSON 13: How To Promote Your Writing BEFORE You Publish
- LESSON 14: How to Create, Complicate and Solve Story Problems
Downloadable, printable worksheets linked in the back of each lesson
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 15-18: the complete Thinking: Middles section.
- LESSON 15: "Can't I Just Kill 'Em All?" How to Fall in Love with Your Story the SECOND Time
- LESSON 16: How to Find and Use Your "Planned" Story Surprises
- LESSON 17: How to "Hire" Spies, and Why Your Story Needs Them
- LESSON 18: How to Assess Your Progress and Make Mid-Course Corrections
Downloadable, printable worksheets linked in the back of each lesson
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 19-22: the complete Thinking: Endings section.
- LESSON 19: How to Use Story Gravity to Get Your Ending
- LESSON 20: How to Find Your Story's RIGHT Ending
- LESSON 21: Lesson 21: How to Fix (or Otherwise Deal with) Your Wrecked Story
- LESSON 22: How to Write the Ending That Sells the NEXT Book
Downloadable, printable worksheets linked in the back of each lesson
This convenience bundle includes HTTS Direct Lessons 23-29: the complete Thinking: Revision section.
- LESSON 23: How to Work with Editors, Agents, and More, and NOT Wreck Your Book
- LESSON 24: How To Self-Publish PROFESSIONALLY On Budget and On Schedule
- LESSON 25: How to Plan Your Story Revision (Yes – Only ONE)
- LESSON 26: The Art of Revision: How to NOT Fix What Ain't Broken (While Fixing What Is)
- LESSON 27: How to Deliver What You Promised and What Your Editor Wants On Deadline
- LESSON 28: How to Deliver What You Love and Your Readers Want Time After Time
- LESSON 29: How to NOT Be a One-Book Wonder
Downloadable, printable worksheets linked in the back of each lesson