Start Strong: Unlock your novel in ten weeks

TEN meetings, Tuesday January 27 – March 31, 2026

6:00-8:30pm PT, Online via Zoom

Limited to 12 participants

Start your new year with a new book project in this fun, fast-paced generative workshop.

Each week, you’ll uncover your story through prompts and exercises to form the characters, settings, structure, and plot of your novel. You’ll harness the power of community for accountability, while also playing and experimenting in a safe, facilitated environment.

You’ll leave each session with a packet of exercises to generate at least ten pages of new material for your project. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have 50-100 manuscript pages, a plot map, a story bible, and the tools to keep writing forward.

The fee for this small group, hands-on, 10-week workshop is $720, payable in two installments: 50% deposit to reserve your seat, and the 50% balance due January 6, 2026 when your first “pre-work” packet will be be sent to you.

Reserve your spot now to start your 2026 writing year strong.

What to Expect

1/6/26 - Pre-work: Inspiration, exploration, ideation

Three weeks before our first meeting, you’ll receive a packet of preparatory work to help generate ideas, gather inspiration, and prime your creative pump for the weeks ahead.

1/27 - Week 1: Vision, Character, Commitment

In class: Uncover your story premise and main character. Write a two-sentence guiding pitch. Commit to your project.

At home: Inspiration date; dig deeper into your character; write the burning scene.

2/3 - Week 2: Protagonist and Point of View

In class: Pinpoint you protagonist, explore point of view, create a story bible

At home: Characters, secrets, and conflict; POV play; everything you know

2/10 - Week 3: The Big Story Question

In class: Set your story, create a worthy antagonist, pinpoint your big story question

At home: Beginnings, middles, and endings; key settings; antagonist map

2/17 - Week 4: Plot and Structure

In class: Structure; cause and effect; a simple plot

At home: Structure study; because of that; scene brainstorm

2/24 - Week 5: Start strong

In class: Premise; opening chapters, raising the stakes

At home: Jacket copy, Chapter 1, character wounds

3/3 - Week 6: Story spine

In class: Story spine, key scenes

At home: Key scene map, Chapter 2, a burning scene

3/10 - Week 7: Pushing boundaries

In class: Taking risks, brave writing, dream and nightmare reviews

At home: A shot of courage, Chapters 3 & 4

3/17 - Week 8: Wooing the muse

In class: Generating inspiration, getting unstuck

At home: Resistance toolkit, Chapters 4 & 5

3/24 - Week 9: Refining the map

In class: Mapping your story, mapping the work, be your own developmental editor

At home: Create a story map, write Chapter 6; revise Chapter 1

3/31 - Week 10: Working the plan

In class: Writing forward, class presentation, first trusted reader review

At home: Prepare your first 50 pages for your first trusted reader review. Pages due 3/17. Reviews due 3/31.

Note: Sessions will be recorded.

I hope you find this proposed syllabus as exciting and inspiring as I do!

The fee for this small group, hands-on, 10-week workshop is $720, payable in two installments: 50% deposit to reserve your seat, and the 50% balance due January 6, 2026.

To register, simply click here, fill in your details and select a payment option. The limited seats will be secured in the order in which payment is received and you will receive an email confirmation.