GOT A BOOK IN YOU?
I can help get it out.
My next eight-week online writing course starts April 15, 2025.
Who: Me, obviously. How about you?
What: Your best first 2,500 words of a story in any genre (No passages from the middle. How you start your book is everything.) You’ll get constructive criticism from your peers and me in a safe, welcoming environment. Weekly assignments will challenge you to put precepts into practice.
When: Tuesdays, 7-9 pm, April 15-June 10.
Where: On Zoom.
Why? Because you want to get your book started or pushed farther down the line.
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 12
The course is based on my 17 years’ experience as a published author, 15 years of mentoring writers one-on-one, and nine years teaching writing at University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies–not to mention the years I spent in theatre, which guarantees an animated evening. My 2022 writing residency at the Toronto Public Library’s North York Central branch received outstanding evaluations, as did my U of T courses and my workshops at the 2025 San Miguel Writers Conference. Here’s how it will go:
April 15: Introductions; Your Hero’s Journey. What makes your protagonist worth following?
April 22: Researching the Novel: Building the world of your story.
April 29: Your Cast of Characters: Antagonists and others who populate your story.
May 6: Point of View: Who tells the story? What is your ideal narrative voice?
May 13: Outlining: The three-act structure; How to avoid writer’s block and build suspense.
May 20: Dialogue: Letting each character speak in their own voice.
May 27 — No Class. I will be attending a wedding in Virginia
June 3: Your first page: How to hook readers from the beginning.
June 10: Top ten tips to bolster your writing career. Lessons from authors around the world.
Each two-hour class will include a review of assignments and a critique of at least one submission.
How to register: Email me at info@howardshrier.com to confirm your spot. Pay the course fees via PayPal. Canadians can pay via Interac e-transfer. Deadline: April 4.
Fees: $500 USD/$700 CDN.
Early registration: Pay before March 28 and get 10% off.
Manuscripts: Please send the first 2,500 words of your manuscript by April 8. I will then publish a schedule of who goes when, along with guidelines on how to comment fairly and constructively.
Follow-ups: Private 30-minute sessions will be held via Zoom with each participant the week of June 16-20. I will publish a booking schedule at the end of the course.
