A Writer's Guide to Descriptive Settings

Advanced Fiction Writing

Beginning Writer's Workshop

Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners

Note: this is a PC supported course; however, Mac users may still enroll. Mac users should expect to make adjustments based on their operating system differences especially during the podcast portion of the course. In addition, Mac users will download different versions of audio editing software and video editing software that will differ from the directions presented in the course.

Breaking Into Sitcom Writing

Creating K-12 Learning Materials

Creating WordPress Websites

Want to build an attractive, sophisticated blog or website—without having to learn any special coding? WordPress is the answer you're looking for! WordPress is one of the world's most popular Web design tools because it's free, it's easy to use, and it produces professional results.

In these lessons, you'll get hands-on experience with this powerful tool as you create your own WordPress site and blog. As you walk through the process from start to finish, you'll find out how to use WordPress to create pages and posts, add images and videos, change a site's look and feel, and include user-friendly features. You'll discover the ease of using WordPress design themes to express your creativity, and you'll see how much fun it is to be part of the vibrant WordPress online community. 

In addition to mastering the technical elements of WordPress, you'll learn how to organize a blog or website, create appealing content, and achieve better positions on search engine results pages. By the end of this course, you'll be able to confidently use WordPress to create a blog or a personal, business, or organizational website.

Creating WordPress Websites II

Create a website that can do just about anything, without any technical coding!  In this course, you'll learn how to build content management websites and blogs with WordPress.org, the world's most popular Web page publisher.

Content management lets you control your own site by providing an easy-to-use online administrative area that makes creating and updating content as simple as sending an email.  Your online visitors will be able to comment on your articles, fill out forms and applications, buy your products, and even make appointments.

You'll master each step, from selecting a domain name and a hosting company to installing WordPress and creating pages. You'll discover how to insert images and multimedia, create a user-friendly navigation system, and take advantage of the dynamic add-on features known as plug-ins. You'll explore how to turn your website into an ecommerce powerhouse and improve search engine page results.  And you'll also learn some HTML and CSS coding to customize your site's look and feel.

If you want to build or maintain a professional WordPress website with all the bells and whistles, this course is for you.

Grammar Refresher

How to Make Money From Your Writing

You really can make money with your writing. Whether you want to create your own business, add to your income, supplement your retirement, or boost what you're earning as a writer, you'll find the how-to's here.

In just six weeks, I'll share secrets, methods, and tips to help you generate income with your writing. This class includes all the practical information that so rarely gets taught in writing classes.

Now I know in most courses and social groups it's taboo to discuss money . . . but not here. We'll embrace it! Making money is the focus of the lessons. 

You'll explore a dozen genres that can help you establish a sometime, part-time, or full-time career as a writer. Along the way, you'll learn methods to work faster, suffer less rejection, and bring home more bacon (even if you're a vegan like me).

You'll get facts on ghostwriting, collaboration, writing for the Web, writing for new technologies, copywriting, article and essay writing, and novel and nonfiction book writing, plus I'll give tips for finding publishers and agents. And you're going to practice different writing techniques in a safe environment as I mentor you.

Please join me for this course. Fulfilling (and lucrative) writing work is waiting for you!

Introduction to Internet Writing Markets

Introduction to Journaling

Introduction to Screenwriting

There's never been a better time to start a career as a screenwriter. With technological breakthroughs bringing the cost of making and distributing movies down to almost nothing, there's going to be a huge demand for great scripts—and for people who can write them.  

Whether you want to write micro-budget indie films or Hollywood blockbusters, this course will teach you everything you need to know to create a script that can sell. You'll start with the fundamentals of stories—why audiences need them, what they expect from them, and what kinds of stories work time after time. Then you'll learn how to write your own. You'll see how to come up with an idea, how to develop that tiny spark into a story, and finally how to structure it into a screenplay. 

But story and structure are only the beginning. You'll learn how to create characters audiences will believe and how to write dialogue that will bring them to life. You'll discover the secrets of constructing scenes that audiences won't be able to stop watching and how to make every moment of your screenplay count. And you'll see how to take your good first draft and turn it into something great. 

Along the way, you'll get hands-on experience through a series of short—and fun!—writing assignments that will have you working like a pro from the very beginning of the course. 

Finally, you'll get an inside look into the business of selling your script and building your career as a writer. You'll find out about agents and producers, contests and consultants, studios and scam artists. When you finish the course, you'll be ready to start writing your own script, and you'll know how to sell it once it's done!

Mystery Writing

Pleasures of Poetry

Publish and Sell Your E-Books

E-books are blazing through the publishing world like a speeding comet, with thousands of previously undiscovered authors as the bright glowing lights in its tail. Independent—indie—authors are becoming overnight sensations in the New York Times and USA Today, on Amazon, and well, everywhere e-books are sold. In this course, you'll see how you can join their ranks by learning how to publish and sell your own e-book.

It's no secret that e-books now outsell traditionally published books around the world. This is great news for authors, who no longer need a large budget to self-publish and promote their books. In fact, in this course, you'll learn step by step how to use free tools to turn your manuscript into a professionally published e-book ready for distribution. Or, if you don't consider yourself a "techie," this course will give you the information you need to select the right publishing services to help you as you convert your manuscript so you're ready to sell it as an e-book.  

Whether you're a first-timer or have already put out an e-book or two, this course puts you inside the publishing industry, sharing the tricks of the trade used by traditional publishers to make sure their books are in the best position to be found by readers. You'll learn how to target your reading audience, select bookstores, get your book distributed around the world, and even have your book added to your local library's virtual shelves. By the end of this course, you can have your publishing dreams come true by selling an e-book. Make it happen today!

Research Methods for Writers

The Craft of Magazine Writing

The Keys to Effective Editing

Travel Writing

Write and Publish Your Nonfiction Book

Write Fiction Like a Pro

Write Your Life Story

Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers

Writing and Selling Self-Help Books

Are you serious about becoming a published self-help book author—and are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work? Then this course is for you! 

One of the most important secrets in publishing is that writing self-help books is different from writing books in other genres. That’s because in this genre, you can land a writing contract before you complete your manuscript. In these lessons, a New York Times bestselling author shares the secrets for turning a book idea into a winning proposal to sell to publishing houses.  

First, you’ll learn about two of the most important players in the publishing industry—literary agents and acquisitions editors. You’ll discover what they’re looking for and find out how to maximize your chances of landing a contract. 

Once you understand how the book industry works, you’ll explore the three crucial criteria for selecting a topic for your first self-help book. You may even discover that you have more than one book in you! You’ll also investigate the pros and cons of collaborating with other writers or having your book ghost written.  

Next, you’ll conduct a market survey of your key competitors and strategize how to position your book to sell. Then you’ll find out the biggest secret for turning a self-help book into a top seller: a great hook! You’ll learn the four characteristics of a good hook, and create your own sensational hook.  

At this point, you’ll get down to business and focus on writing your book. You'll confront one of the most challenging parts of writing a book—putting your life experience and insight into a concise, linear book format. You’ll learn how to structure your book, how to speak directly to your readers, and how to use compelling stories to illustrate your message. To wrap up your writing practice, you’ll create a dynamic chapter opening and learn how to write a chapter ending that keeps your readers engaged.  

As you follow the step-by-step instructions in these lessons, you’ll create a polished proposal package consisting of a proposal summary, a writing sample, a press kit, and supplemental information. By the end of the course, you’ll have everything you need to start selling your book—and you’ll know exactly what agents are looking for in a first-time author!

Writing Essentials

Writing for Children

Writing for ESL

Writing Young Adult Fiction

From Harry Potter to Twilight, young adult fiction is one of the hottest genres for today's novels. Teens and adults alike have discovered the excitement and passion of these stories, and publishers are hungry for more. If you're eager to break into this market, this course provides you with the recipe for creating your own successful young adult story and shows you how to get it published.  

First, you'll learn why writing young adult fiction is both fun and financially rewarding. After that, you'll decide what type of story you want to tell, plan your plot, and choose the dramatic elements that will keep your readers eagerly turning pages.  

Next, you'll discover the secrets for bringing your characters to life. You'll also learn about story patterns, the three-act structure, and a technique called scene and sequel. In addition, you'll find out how to introduce conflict, suspense, and mystery so you can grab and hold your readers' attention. 

And are you fluent in teenspeak? In these lessons, you'll master the art of creating dialogue that resonates with teenagers and young adults. You'll also decide which viewpoint, voice, and tense you want to use, and you'll see how imagery can make your story sparkle.  

As you master each element of young adult fiction, you'll also be writing scenes for your own story. In addition, you'll analyze excerpts from bestselling young adult books to see what makes them so successful.  

In the final lessons, you'll get expert advice on publishing and marketing your book. You'll learn how to find an agent or publisher and how to write a synopsis that sells. You'll also get the facts about literary contests and discover why on-demand publishing might be the perfect choice for you.  

If you've dreamed for years of becoming an author, this course can help you turn your dream into a reality. In just six weeks, you'll have all the tools you need to create a polished manuscript and get your story in print!