Outliers Online Ongoing Writers Conference
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EARLY BLACK FRIDAY SALE
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SAVE 33% Plus a Few Bonuses
Normally $900; Now Only $600
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1--Two Live, Interactive Classes per Month: Led by bestselling authors and experts, right from your home via Zoom (a $900 value/year)
2--Recorded Replays: Watch any missed classes at your convenience
3--Free Month in December 2024 (a $75 value)
4--Two Free Writing Workbooks: Step-by-step guides for writing both fiction and nonfiction (a $19.99 value)
SIGN UP NOW: https://buy.stripe.com/fZeeVg6HQgYteWYaFj
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All classes are LIVE, interactive, and taught by working, best-selling authors
2 Classes per month, every month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 4 pm Pacific Time
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JOIN AT ANY TIME
classes are ongoing month after month
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NOTE: You can begin your subscription at any time and access 2 classes/month for the duration of your subscription. For example, if you subscribe for 1 year on April 1, you will get 2 classes/month until March 31 of the following year.
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Each class will be recorded and remain available to students for 10 days after its presentation so if you miss one, or simply want to view it again, a provided link will allow access.
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SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS
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Annual Subscription (Best Bargain): $900/year
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OR
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Sign up for individual classes: $45/Each
(Sign-up links for each class are below)
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2024 SCHEDULE
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11/19: CLASS 22: Getting Your Book Published—John/Shannon Raab
You've written a book, now you need an agent or a publisher and don't know where to go or what to do. We will teach you how to avoid common mistakes and give you a road map to follow and help navigate around the publishing business.
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John and Shannon Raab founded Suspense Magazine in 2007 and from there, expanded into the publishing world with Suspense Publishing in 2010. Since that time, they’ve published over 200 titles, including the anthologies: NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER MIDNIGHT Edited by Jeffery Deaver and INFINITY Edited by Catherine Coulter. Suspense Magazine launched over 100 issues and the Suspense Podcasts released 950 episodes with over 2,000 author interviews. In 2023, John and Shannon took on the role of co-editors of The Big Thrill and Write2Thrill for the International Thriller Writers. When they’re not traveling around Asia, they live in Los Angeles and spend their free time with their amazing daughters and granddaughter.
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12/3: CLASS 23: Social Media Marketing: Your Online Presence and Other Marketing Strategies—Magen Mintchev
You’ve written your book, prepped it for publication, and now must find your readers. This class offers the tips and tricks you need for a successful book marketing campaign
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12/17: CLASS 24: It’s Not Enough To Write A Good Story—Joseph Badal
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How many times have you heard people say, "I have a great idea for a book, but I just don't have the time to write it." The fact that you are writing something differentiates you from the millions who just don't have the time. That difference is passion. But just because you have the passion to write does not mean that what you are writing will be embraced by an editor, a publisher, or readers.
It's not enough to write a good story. There are rules that must be followed in order for your writing to be accepted. Joseph Badal, the author of 19 award-winning suspense novels will share with you a list of writing rules he uses as a template to take his manuscripts from rough drafts to publishable works.
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Prior to Joseph Badal's literary career, he served six years as an officer in the U.S. Army, including tours of duty in Vietnam and Greece, from which he received numerous decorations. After his military service, he worked for thirty-six years in the banking & finance industries and was a founding director and senior executive of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company for sixteen years.
Joe is an Amazon #1 bestselling author, with 18 published, award-winning suspense novels. He has been recognized as “One of The 50 Best Writers You Should Be Reading.” He was named Writer of the Year by the Military Writers Society of America in 2021, is a two-time winner of the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best Fiction Book of the Year, a four-time Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal Winner, an Eric Hoffer Prize Winner, a Book Excellence award winner, a four-time “Finalist” in the International Book Awards competition, and a top prize winner on multiple occasions in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards competition, including “Best of Show” in 2021.
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2025 SCHEDULE
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1/7: CLASS 25: Mastering Point Of View: Where’s The Camera?—DP Lyle
Understanding point of view (POV) is critical for the fiction writer. The POV determines how the story will unfold, what the relationship between the characters and the reader will be, and the voice, tone, and feel of the story. In short, the POV chosen alters everything. There is no single correct way, or choice, but the POV the author chooses will impact the storytelling in obvious and subtle ways. In this class, we will look at theses choices and how to use them to create an impactful and memorable yarn.
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DP Lyle is the Outliers Co-Creator and Program/Education Director. He is the Amazon #1 Bestselling; Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning; and Edgar(2), Agatha, Anthony, Shamus, Scribe, and USA Today Best Book(2) Award-nominated author of 26 books, both fiction and non-fiction. He hosts the Crime Fiction Writer’s Blog and the Criminal Mischief: The Art and Science of Crime Fiction podcast series. As a founding member of International Thriller Writers he created and directed CraftFest and the Online Thriller school, and co-created and directed the Master Class program. He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Peacemakers, Cold Case, House, Medium, Women’s Murder Club, 1-800-Missing, The Glades, and Pretty Little Liars.
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1/21: CLASS 26:
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​2/4: CLASS 27: Setting As Character—DP Lyle
Setting is not simply a scene description. It is a living, breathing character that drags the reader into the story world, sets the tone and mood, and impacts every character and action. Many stories can occur “almost anywhere” while others are married to a particular location. In the class, we will discuss what setting really is, how it alters the storytelling, and how to use it most effectively in your story.
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DP Lyle is the Outliers Co-Creator and Program/Education Director. He is the Amazon #1 Bestselling; Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning; and Edgar(2), Agatha, Anthony, Shamus, Scribe, and USA Today Best Book(2) Award-nominated author of 26 books, both fiction and non-fiction. He hosts the Crime Fiction Writer’s Blog and the Criminal Mischief: The Art and Science of Crime Fiction podcast series. As a founding member of International Thriller Writers he created and directed CraftFest and the Online Thriller school, and co-created and directed the Master Class program. He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Peacemakers, Cold Case, House, Medium, Women’s Murder Club, 1-800-Missing, The Glades, and Pretty Little Liars.
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2/18: CLASS 28: SUSPENSE—Meg Gardiner
Learn from a master how to keep your plot in turmoil—and readers reading
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Meg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels. Her thrillers have won the Edgar Award and been summer reading picks by The Today Show and O, the Oprah magazine. In August 2022 Heat 2, co-authored with Michael Mann, debuted at #1 on the New York Times best seller list. A former lawyer, two-time president of Mystery Writers of America, and three-time Jeopardy! champion, Gardiner lives in Austin.
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3/4: CLASS 29: PLOT TWISTS—Meg Gardiner
How do you create surprises that readers never see coming? How do you spring them on your audience in ways they’ll love? Meg Gardiner will show you how.
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Meg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels. Her thrillers have won the Edgar Award and been summer reading picks by The Today Show and O, the Oprah magazine. In August 2022 Heat 2, co-authored with Michael Mann, debuted at #1 on the New York Times best seller list. A former lawyer, two-time president of Mystery Writers of America, and three-time Jeopardy! champion, Gardiner lives in Austin.
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3/18: CLASS 30: WHIPLASH PACING: Keep Your Reader on the Edge—KJ Howe
Pacing is a profound yet subtle element of novels that needs special care. Join KJ Howe to discover how to fine tune your pacing so that readers can’t put your novel down.
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KJ Howe is the international bestselling author of The Freedom Broker series showcasing elite kidnap negotiator Thea Paris. She is also the executive director of the International Thriller Writers, an organization that supports thriller authors worldwide. KJ completed her Masters in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University and won the Thriller Award for Best First Novel.
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4/1: CLASS 31: Simplify Your Storytelling By Writing To The Midpoint—DP Lyle
Constructing a publishable story is no small task. So many things to consider: story structure, plotting, character development, setting, dialog. And of course the inciting incident, the first and second turnings points, and the climax. A lot of balls to keep in the air. The key to a good story is the MIDPOINT. That moment when the character and the story pivot from reactive to proactive. Everything changes. The pace increases, the action escalates, and the tension rises as the climax approaches. So, why not write to and from that critical midpoint? A single guide post for your story? In this class, we will examine examples and look at a few techniques to streamline, and simplify, your writing.
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DP Lyle is the Outliers Co-Creator and Program/Education Director. He is the Amazon #1 Bestselling; Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Award-winning; and Edgar(2), Agatha, Anthony, Shamus, Scribe, and USA Today Best Book(2) Award-nominated author of 26 books, both fiction and non-fiction. He hosts the Crime Fiction Writer’s Blog and the Criminal Mischief: The Art and Science of Crime Fiction podcast series. As a founding member of International Thriller Writers he created and directed CraftFest and the Online Thriller school, and co-created and directed the Master Class program. He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Judging Amy, Peacemakers, Cold Case, House, Medium, Women’s Murder Club, 1-800-Missing, The Glades, and Pretty Little Liars.
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​4/15: CLASS 32:
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5/6: CLASS 33: Scene Study: How to make the most of every scene—STEVEN JAMES
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Every scene will end in one of four ways—and only two of them do anything to move the story forward or contribute to the character’s development. Learn what those two are and, even more importantly, discover how to master the two scene endings that will actually advance and enhance your story. You'll learn:
Why pursuit is far more important than plot, and how to use that insight to inform every scene in your manuscript.
How to know when to summarize a scene and when to render one.
Why it’s essential for characters to fail in order for a story to proceed.
How to start scenes, what stalls them out, and what can propel any scene forward.
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Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including The New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master's degree in storytelling. Since 1996 he has appeared more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe, presenting his stories and teaching the principles of storytelling to writers, speakers, teachers, and leaders. When he's not writing or speaking, he hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender, on which he interviews some of the world's leading writers and storytellers. In 2020 he was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame for excellence in fiction writing. Publishers Weekly has called him "[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
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5/20: CLASS 34: Cooking Up Hooks: The Psychology of Grabbing Your Readers—Dr. Katherine Ramsland
To inject narrative momentum, you need hooks—not just the one that grips readers on page one. Hooks occur all the way through, aiding the mood, pace, and voice. They work because our brain is hardwired for expectation, which sets us up for both surprise and satisfaction. Types of hooks will be explored, the way they work, and where to place them in your story.
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Dr. Katherine Ramsland teaches forensic psychology and behavioral criminology in the graduate program at DeSales University. She has appeared as an expert on more than 250 crime documentaries and was an executive producer on Murder House Flip and A&E’s Confession of a Serial killer: BTK. The author of more than 1,800 articles and 73 books, including Confession of a Serial Killer, The Serial Killer’s Apprentice and How to Catch a Killer, she pens a regular blog for Psychology Today. She has also written a fiction series based on a female forensic psychologist who consults on death investigations. Dead-Handed is her most recent book.
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6/3: CLASS 35: Great Beginnings—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her current novel is the page-turning standalone THE HOUSE GUEST, a story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship. Publishers Weekly says “Ryan is a master of suspense!” and Library Journal says "Ryan is has a gift for writing superb suspense." Hank is the co-host and founder of THE BACK ROOM, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of FIRST CHAPTER FUN. Watch for her newest thriller ONE WRONG WORD, coming February 2024.
https://hankphillippiryan.com/
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6/17: CLASS 36: What Scares You? Putting Fear on the Page to Thrill Your Readers-Jenny Milchman
Terror isn't just for Stephen King. Much of your story, including setting, stakes, plot, characters and more, depends to a degree on fear. And the reasons for fear are as broad and far-reaching as fiction itself. There might be a monster—human or otherwise—driving your novel. Or something even worse. Anything from a storm in the wilderness to a betrayal between star-crossed lovers can provoke dread…and keep readers turning pages. This workshop will explore the six primary sources of fright and help you learn to tap into them to make your writing the stuff of dreams. Bad dreams, that is.
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Jenny Milchman is the Mary Higgins Clark award winning and USA Today bestselling author of five novels. Her work has been praised by the New York Times, New York Journal of Books, San Francisco Journal of Books and more; earned spots on Best Of lists including PureWow, POPSUGAR, the Strand, Suspense, and Big Thrill magazines; and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and Shelf Awareness. Four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Jenny's short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies as well as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and a recent piece on book touring appeared in the Agatha award winning collection Promophobia. This fall, Jenny’s new series featuring Arles Shepherd, a psychologist who has the power to save the most troubled and vulnerable children, but must battle demons of her own to do it, launches with Thomas & Mercer. Jenny is a member of the Rogue Women Writers and lives in the Catskills with her family.
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7/1: CLASS 37: How to Write Your Way out of a Corner—STEVEN JAMES
Learn how to generate fresh ideas, weave innovative thinking into your writing projects (whether fiction or nonfiction), and improve the shape and craft of the stories you write. We’ll explore and demystify the creative process while discovering simple steps for intensifying the impact of your writing. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned pro, you’ll learn practical, easy-to-master techniques that will save you time while taking your writing to the next level.
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Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including The New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master's degree in storytelling. Since 1996 he has appeared more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe, presenting his stories and teaching the principles of storytelling to writers, speakers, teachers, and leaders. When he's not writing or speaking, he hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender, on which he interviews some of the world's leading writers and storytellers. In 2020 he was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame for excellence in fiction writing. Publishers Weekly has called him "[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
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7/15: CLASS 38: Managing the Muddle in the Middle—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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Your fingers are poised over the keyboard. You have a rocking first act to your novel, and you even have an idea of how to end your story with a twist and a bang and a shot at certain bestsellerdom. But now what? How are you going to get from that great beginning to the kickass ending? You've hit the muddle in the middle. Raymond Chandler once advised: “When in doubt, bring in a man with a gun." What did he really mean by that? And how can it work for you?
USA Today best-selling author Hank Phillippi Ryan will show you how these central pages can be crafted to intrigue, surprise, and delight your readers–and have them turning the pages as fast as they can. In addition to practical advice and specific tips, you will leave this session with a clear and exciting path toward the magic in the middle.
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HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her current novel is the page-turning standalone THE HOUSE GUEST, a story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship. Publishers Weekly says “Ryan is a master of suspense!” and Library Journal says "Ryan is has a gift for writing superb suspense." Hank is the co-host and founder of THE BACK ROOM, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of FIRST CHAPTER FUN. Watch for her newest thriller ONE WRONG WORD, coming February 2024.
https://hankphillippiryan.com/
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8/5: CLASS 39: Worldbuilding & Voice—KJ Howe
Full immersion is what you are looking for when penning your novel. Learn how to create a vivid setting and hone a captivating voice—both will help transport readers to the fascinating world that you have created.
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KJ Howe is the international bestselling author of The Freedom Broker series showcasing elite kidnap negotiator Thea Paris. She is also the executive director of the International Thriller Writers, an organization that supports thriller authors worldwide. KJ completed her Masters in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University and won the Thriller Award for Best First Novel.
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8/19: CLASS 40: Secrets of Suspense—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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Think about the words you see in a rave book review. Pacey. Propulsive. Riveting. Compelling. Page-turner. And those are all shorthand for “fun to read,” and for “something happens.” And also for "I cannot wait to find out what happens next." Problem is, it’s textbook-easy to begin a novel and have something happen: that’s why there’s a story. But to keep your story going, to keep it pacey and propulsive, things must keep happening. And at every moment, the reader must be compelled to turn the page.
Every writer knows it can be daunting to keep the engine of your book running. But suspense is the fuel that makes it accelerate. How can you create suspense in very sentence? And how can you pack your pages with so much suspense that it becomes a coveted one-sitting read?
USA Today best-selling author and Emmy-winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan will show you how each element of your story can be tightened, twisted, and focused to intrigue, surprise and delight your readers--and have them turning the pages as fast as they can. With practical advice and specific tips, Hank will guide you through the secrets of suspense.
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HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her current novel is the page-turning standalone THE HOUSE GUEST, a story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship. Publishers Weekly says “Ryan is a master of suspense!” and Library Journal says "Ryan is has a gift for writing superb suspense." Hank is the co-host and founder of THE BACK ROOM, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of FIRST CHAPTER FUN. Watch for her newest thriller ONE WRONG WORD, coming February 2024.
https://hankphillippiryan.com/
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9/2: CLASS 41: Romantic Suspense v. Romantic Mysteries—Allison Brennan
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New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. A fifth-generation Californian, she moved with her family to Arizona in 2019 where she enjoys hiking, baseball Spring Training, and (of course) reading. Allison is best known for her long-running Lucy Kincaid FBI series, and her Quinn & Costa thrillers. Her new Angelhart PI series launches the summer of 2024.
https://www.allisonbrennan.com/
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9/16: CLASS 42: Writing the Blockbuster Novel—James Rollins
What makes a novel a BLOCKBUSTER? How can your story climb to that level? Learn the secrets and techniques from a master of the Blockbuster.
JAMES ROLLINS is the #1 New York Times bestseller of international thrillers, sold to over forty countries. His Sigma series has earned national accolades and has topped charts around the world. He is also a practicing veterinarian, who still spends time underground or underwater as an avid spelunker and diver.
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10/7: CLASS 43:
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10/21: CLASS 44: Tips for Writing and Publishing Short Crime Fiction—Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson in Conversation
“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build toward it.”
-Edgar Allan Poe.
Short stories require a skill set that’s different from writing a novel. Learn the elements that create a great short story, the different ways to structure them, and how to create a strong narrative drive that leads to a satisfying ending. Instructors will also share how to find markets for short fiction and tips on how to develop working relationships with editors that can lead to a long and rewarding career.
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Stacy Woodson is a multi-award-winning crime fiction writer and a U.S. Army veteran. Memories of her time in the military are often a source of inspiration for her stories. She made her crime fiction debut in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine's Department of First Stories and won the 2018 Readers Award. It was the second time in the award's 34-year history that a debut story took first place.
Since her debut, Stacy has placed stories in several anthologies and magazines—some adapted for animation. She is a two-time Derringer award winner for excellence in short mystery fiction (three-time nominee), a quarterfinalist for Screencraft's best cinematic short story, as well as a Daphne du Maurier award winner for best unpublished novel. Currently, she is co-editing anthologies for Down and Out Books and Level Best Books. She’s also a member of the Screen Actors Guild. When not writing, she works as background talent for movies and television. Past projects include Showtime's Homeland, Amazon's Jack Ryan, AMC's The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and Wonder Woman 1984.
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Michael Bracken is the Edgar Award-nominated, Shamus Award-nominated, Derringer Award-winning author of more than 1,200 short stories, including crime fiction published in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Best American Mystery Stories, The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, and many other publications. Additionally, Bracken is the editor of Black Cat Mystery Magazine and several anthologies, including the Anthony Award-nominated The Eyes of Texas: Private Eyes from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods. His stories have been translated into several languages, released in audio format, and adapted for animation.
Additionally, Bracken served as vice president of the Private Eye Writers of America, has served on the board of the Mystery Writers of America and is a Consulting Editor for Level Short, an imprint of Level Best Books.
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11/4: CLASS 45: Title To Come—Allison Brennan
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New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. A fifth-generation Californian, she moved with her family to Arizona in 2019 where she enjoys hiking, baseball Spring Training, and (of course) reading. Allison is best known for her long-running Lucy Kincaid FBI series, and her Quinn & Costa thrillers. Her new Angelhart PI series launches the summer of 2024.
https://www.allisonbrennan.com/
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11/18: CLASS 46:
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12/2: CLASS 47: Secrets of the Three-Act Structure—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her current novel is the page-turning standalone THE HOUSE GUEST, a story of psychological manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship. Publishers Weekly says “Ryan is a master of suspense!” and Library Journal says "Ryan is has a gift for writing superb suspense." Hank is the co-host and founder of THE BACK ROOM, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of FIRST CHAPTER FUN. Watch for her newest thriller ONE WRONG WORD, coming February 2024.
https://hankphillippiryan.com/
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12/16: CLASS 48: The Subtleties of Voice and Point of View—STEVEN JAMES
What is voice and how does it relate to the POV you’re telling the story from? Learn the subtleties of developing a unique narrative voice and gain an understanding of when to shift to another point of view (and when not to!) and how to use voice and multiple POVs to draw readers in.
You'll learn:
How to uncover your voice and shade each POV section with its own unique flavor.
The nine pitfalls of POV use and how to avoid them.
The role of reader empathy and why it’s overrated.
The dynamic between details and descriptions, and how to leverage them both in your story while staying in your voice.
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Steven James is a critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including The New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master's degree in storytelling. Since 1996 he has appeared more than two thousand times at events spanning the globe, presenting his stories and teaching the principles of storytelling to writers, speakers, teachers, and leaders. When he's not writing or speaking, he hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender, on which he interviews some of the world's leading writers and storytellers. In 2020 he was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame for excellence in fiction writing. Publishers Weekly has called him "[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
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CLASSES COMPLETED
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1/2/24: CLASS 1: Premise: What Your Story Is About: From What If? To Premise—Kathleen Antrim
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1/16/24: CLASS 2: The Psychology of Character Motivation—DP Lyle
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2/6/24: CLASS 3: Storytelling: Authors Heather Graham and DP Lyle In Conversation
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2/20: CLASS 4: Structuring Your Novel—Cody Blocker
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3/5: CLASS 5: Heroes and Villains: Bringing Out the Best and the Worst in Your Characters—Steven James
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3/19: CLASS 6: The Art of Pacing—Boyd Morrison
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4/2: CLASS 7: World Building For Any Genre—Tosca Lee
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4/16: CLASS 8: Sidekicks and the Supporting Cast—Allison Brennan
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5/7: CLASS 9: Status: The Key to Creating Three-dimensional Characters—Steven James
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5/21: CLASS 10: Narrative NonFiction—Jon Land
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6/4: CLASS 11: Self Editing 101--KJ Howe
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6/18: CLASS 12: Short Stories and Novellas—Allison Brennan
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7/2: CLASS 13: Managing the Muddle in the Middle—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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7/16: CLASS 14: How To Break Into Ghost Writing—Jon Land
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8/6: CLASS 15: Infusing Your Story With Humor—DP Lyle and Tim Maleeny
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8/20: CLASS 16: Secrets of Suspense—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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9/3: CLASS 17: So Close, So Far Away: Unlocking the Secrets of Psychic Distance—Mark Tavani
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9/17: CLASS 18: Highway To The Outline Zone—Tamara Grantham
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10/1: CLASS 19: Adding Intrigue & Action To Your Prose—Don Bentley
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10/15: CLASS 20: Writing Timeless Historical Fiction—Boyd Morrison
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11/7: CLASS 21: Plotting the Commercial Thriller--Jeffery Deaver​
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