July Online Class: Make Your Characters Memorable
Instructor: Kathy Otten
Read all the details and register at this link:
Make Your Characters Memorable with Kathy Otten - 7/6/2026
Course Details
What every agent, editor, and reader is looking for is a story that makes them care. And, good characters are the secret to success in commercial fiction.
Learning what really motivates your characters and how to then weave it into your plot will ultimately create the emotional tension in your story to keep your reader turning pages and create characters your reader will never forget.
July Online Intensive: You Can Handle the Truth: Searching for Authenticity
Instructor: Jim Rada
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You Can Handle the Truth: Searching for Authenticity with Jim Rada - 7/25/2026
Course Details
When you write fiction, you need the reader to suspend their disbelief and remain in the story. To
do that, you need to make as much of your story as you can authentic, and that means you need to
do research. It can be more than history, extending into how things work, who people were, what
places looked like, and even understanding motivations. With this seminar, you’ll learn where to find
information to help you create a realistic story and how to use that information.
August Online Course: Marketing for Fun and Profit
Instructor: Jim Rada
Read all the details and register at this link:
Marketing for Fun and Profit with Jim Rada - 8/4/2026
Course Details
Many authors don’t understand that just as much effort goes into marketing their book as
does writing it. Marketing has different elements that can be used a la carte.
Have you ever wondered why a celebrity who can’t write and might have trouble reading gets a
big book contract? It’s because they have an author platform. Understanding what constitutes your
marketing platform will help an author understand how well their marketing is doing. It is the
yardstick publishers look at before offering you’re a contract.
Once you know where you are starting, you can craft a marketing plan to help you reach new
heights.
September Online Intensive: The Creative Brilliance Academy, Part One
Instructor: Deborah Riley-Magnus
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The Creative Brilliance Academy, Part One with Deborah Riley-Magnus - 9/12/2026
Course Details
This is a workshop for writers and authors of all levels. Those who know me know that I’ve focused all my classes on author marketing. The most important part of marketing is CREATIVITY. Creativity is the life blood for everything from making a sandwich, to writing a great book and marketing it into a best seller. Creativity is the core of EVERY SINGLE THING done well! In this workshop, we explore the concept of human brilliance and how it applies to the creative process. Creative Brilliance is that spark that takes your fertile imagination to the level ofextraordinary creators. This exciting journey helps find solutions where there seem to be none and expands a deep sense of inspiration. The goal is to reach a point where we feel that powerful brilliance more often, or better yet, all the time. Prepare for a little brain-stretching, and a lot of courage. As you reach for extraordinary stories and excellent market exposure for your books, your writing, and general wellbeing bloom with the spark of creative brilliance. This is an interactive workshop, so come prepared to explode your brilliance into high gear!
October Online Class: Long Story Short: The Fundamentals of Crafting a Short Story
Instructor: Derek Attico
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Long Story Short with Derek Attico - 10/6/2026
Course Details
This engaging and
comprehensive course is designed for fiction and nonfiction writers alike, whether you're an
emerging storyteller or a seasoned author seeking to refine your craft. Through a series of
dynamic sessions, you’ll explore the core.
November Online Class: A Freelancer Prepares
Instructor: Timons Esaias
Read all the details and register at this link:
A Freelancer Prepares with Timons Esaias - 11/3/2026
Course Details
This will be a boiled-down version of Esaias's highly successful one-semester course for Seton Hill University undergrads -- Publication Workshop. The plan is to give you all the elements that a freelancer uses to become a successful submission machine. The idea of submission can be intimidating, and our goal is to get you through the first steps. We hope to have participants actually submitting work for publication during the month; or soon thereafter.