Love what you see in our lesson descriptions, but not sure you want to commit to a full course yet?
No problem. You can mix and match individual classes from the course library with our flexible á la carte options. Choose what fits your schedule and interests!
Just a heads up while you explore the options: Not all of our classes are available á la carte, as some really do need to be taken in order, so the best value is to grab the full course.
You'll definitely save money if there's more than one class you're interested in (not to mention super affordable payment plans), plus you'll gain exclusive office-hour access to our pro publishing team for personalized support.
So with that tip in mind, scroll down to browse all available á la carte classes and uplevel your pub and writing know-how today!
Writing a book that lands with its target audience involves tapping into that audience from your earliest drafts. From reader response to writing craft, the feedback you receive from early readers, other writers, and editors will help you chisel your book into the masterpiece beneath the stone. In this lesson, we’ll review the who, what, when, where, why, and how of giving and receiving effective feedback so your book can make the difference you want it to.
Learn about the different types of editing and which you need for different stages of your book’s development and production, how to process and act on alpha and beta reader feedback, and how to develop an editing plan unique to your goals and your book’s purpose.
Learn about the different paths to publishing (trad, indie, hybrid, oh my!), the pros and cons of each, and how your goals, timeline, platform, and book’s topic affect which path you choose.
Get clear on the basics of publishing law to protect yourself and negotiate like a pro! Lawyer and senior literary agent Jaqui Lipton covers FAQs about traditional publishing contracts and royalty statements, plus explains copyright, trademark, defamation (safely writing about others), fair use, and more. No matter your publishing path or the size of your publisher, the resources and information in this module are not to be missed!
Discover what a literary agent can do for your author career. This class goes into depth on why you may want an agent; what agents are looking for (in other words, how to get out of the slush pile!); when you should start querying; the best places to find reputable agents; how to write queries, synopses, and book proposals; navigating rejection like a pro; and best practices for pitching and selling yourself as a professional that agents and publishers want to work with.
In the very earliest stages—even before you start writing—you should have a clear idea of who you’re talking to, what they need, and how your message will speak directly to those needs. This goes a lot deeper than most people assume and is make-or-break for your long-term success. This knowledge deeply informs your entire writing process—and the lack of it leads to the number-one mistake requiring authors to rewrite their books when they think they're ready for publishing. We don't want that to be you! So in this lesson, you’ll learn the must-knows of writing for the right reader—immediately getting their attention from book title to last page—so you can get your book into the hands that need it most.
Nonfiction readers know their genre and come with a set of expectations. Whether you meet those expectations determines if they stick with your book, take your message to heart, recommend it to others, and leave glowing reviews. In this lesson, you’ll learn the keys to effective book structure—for each unique genre—in order to meet reader expectations. It’s time to make your message shine!
We’ve all seen nonfiction authors borrowing quotations and paraphrasing each other. As readers, we love to see additional evidence so we don't just have to take the author’s word for it. What we don’t see is the rigorous process the author went through to include others’ works (keeping it within the bounds of law, ethics, and professional respect). In this lesson, you’ll receive a crash course in intellectual property (IP) basics to help you understand how to protect your and others’ IP—and when you need to consult an IP lawyer.
(Only for a limited-time deal...
While we finish dotting the i's and crossing the t's on this course, you can snag the ARCs of our popular ebook + workbook on writing page-turning fiction. See details below!)
Every great story has one thing in common: it grabs the reader and never lets go. What do the pros know about making that happen?
Join us as we explore the key elements of a bestselling story:
You'll discover how to craft compelling character transformation that has readers rooting from page one.
Along the way, you'll learn how to avoid formulaic writing while mastering unique story structures that pull in the reader and keep them engaged.
You’ll also gain killer insight into genre/subgenre, exploring the art of bending and blending to create truly original stories.
To maintain high tension and avoid that saggy middle, you’ll anchor your story with a strong WHY, moving your plot forward with purpose and drive.
Finally, you’ll learn to master pacing as you dissect a chapter and identify the structural beats that turn each scene into a mini story, sweeping readers up in the action so they eagerly anticipate the next big reveal.
As a bonus, the downloads and cheat sheets will help you stay organized and write faster!
(As an early adopter, when the full course is ready to roll, you'll get a discount plus access to personalized support through our instructor office hours, along with final editions of the ebook and workbook—which will boast additional content you won't want to miss!)
From USA Today best-selling author Heather B. Moore, discover where and how to start marketing your book like a pro. Learn the most important places to post and advertise, steal insider tips, and get directed to pros who can help you make a splash. Plus, with our extensive marketing checklist, you can get clear on the breadth and depth of marketing tactics available in today’s book-promotion industry.
If your passions include great storytelling, beautiful prose, attention to detail, and big ideas, you may have the potential to become a book editor!
Join us for this exciting introduction to the world of editing, where we'll cover the stages of editing—developmental, substantive (also known as deep line editing), copyediting, and proofreading—outlining what each entails, how they differ, and the skills required to succeed at each. We'll also cover what it’s actually like to work with clients, and the P.R. and communication skills needed for effective collaboration.
Plus get a collection of awesome downloads to help you hone your skills as a developmental editor (fiction or non) or beta reader.
This class is a prerequisite for our upcoming advanced course on becoming an editor. We'll be covering the editorial career in greater depth, whether that's running your own freelance business or working for a traditional publisher. Stay tuned for when that's available!
We're so confident these classes can uplevel your publishing career that we’re offering a ten-day satisfaction guarantee. After completing your first three pages of coursework, if it isn't a fit, submit your coursework with your concerns and we'll issue you a full refund. (If your reasons fall outside that scenario, contact us. We’re happy to discuss your situation.)