Fall 2024 Writing Classes
With J Scott Savage
It’s not too late to sign up! All classes are recorded, so you can catch up and join live, or just enjoy the recordings at your own pace. Register now!
J Scott Savage is the author of twenty-three published novels ranging from from adult mystery, thriller, and horror to middle grade fantasy. He has taught hundreds of writing classes at conferences and events across the country and has received messages from many of the writers he has helped improve their craft requesting additional on-line instruction.
Beginning October 12th Scott will teach six ninety-minute writing classes (with an optional 30 minute Q&A) every Saturday morning from 9:00 to 10:30. The classes will focus on intermediate to advanced craft and are open to anyone from teen to adult.
The classes will be streamed live and recorded for later viewing. All slides, notes, and class recordings will be available to download or view online shortly after the class and for 90 days after the end of the last class. Total cost for all six classes is $50. Optional critiques and one-on-ones will be available for $25 each.
Adult & Teen Writing Class
Class Details
Saturday, October 12th – November 16th, 2024
9:00 AM— 10:30 AM Mountain Time.
This class will be 100% virtual. You can watch it live every Thursday evening or stream it at your convenience from a private Youtube link. All slides and notes will also be available via a shared Google Docs folder.
At the end of each class, Scott will offer an optional homework assignment. If you would like to be part of a small writing group that will share assignments with each other, please select the free homework group option on the registration page.
The total cost is $50.00 total for all six classes classes. This price includes live access to the class and access to the recordings and slides for 90 days after the last class. There is not an option for purchasing individual classes.
1,000 word critiques, query critiques, and 25 minute zoom calls are also available as an option for $25 each.
J Scott Savage is the author of twenty-three published novels. His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, been a Jr. Library Guild selection, Amazon Book of the Month, and Barnes and Noble Select book, and received awards including a Whitney Award, Young Hoosier finalist, Louisiana Young Readers nominee, and others. He has taught at many writing conferences including: Storymakers, ANWA, League of Utah Writers, WIFYR, LTUE, SCBWI, Lone Star Writing Conference, Teen Author Boot Camp, The Teen Writing Conference, and others.
This course will include six ninety-minute intermediate to advanced level craft classes with an optional 30 minute Q&A afterward. Each class will be held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 – 10:30 MDT.
All class will be held over Zoom and recorded, so you can watch live or stream anytime you want over a private YouTube link. All slides and notes will be available via a shared Google Docs folder.
Schedule is as follows:
October 12th: From First Idea to Publication
In this class, Scott will discuss how his books progressed from an idea to a plot, querying, sale, editing, pre-pub, publication, and post-pub marketing. We will discuss how to research the market, working with editors and agents, and what does and doesn’t work in promotion.
He will focus on both indie and traditional paths.
October 19th: Four Part Pacing
This class has become one of Scott’s most requested because it breaks down plotting and pacing in a way that makes it easy to diagnose the flow of your story, even when you only know one or two plot points.
Scott will break down all four parts of a plot and how they relate to each other so that you don’t get the middle of the story sag that is common with a lot of plots. He will show how to use FPP before writing, during writing, and after writing.
October 26th: Heroes and Villains Types and How They Work Together
This is another of Scott’s most requested classes. Heroes and Villains breaks down both your antagonist and protagonist by a series of easy to understand categories ranging from likeability to strengths and weaknesses to baggage and stakes.
After examining both hero and villain types, the classes will study how you can combine different heroes and villains to create the type of conflict your story requires.
November 2nd: Editing–It’s Not Just for Editors
Every book requires a great editor. But before you hire someone or send it to a publisher or agent, there is a ton of editing you can do yourself. This is so important because it lets an outside editor focus on more details, and because it may not even make it to an editor if it isn’t strong and clean enough.
Scott will focus on different types of editing, how to know when you’ve edited enough, different editing tools on the market, what to focus on with each draft, and any other editing questions the class may have.
November 9th: Early Reader-Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult Genres
This class will focus on the difference between juvenile, young adult, and adult fiction. (Hint, it might not be what you think.) Word count and protagonist age are just the tip of the iceberg. There is also sphere of influence, motives, gray areas, conflict, language, and much more. By the time you have finished this class, you will easily be able to identify who you are writing for and why it does, or doesn’t, work for certain story types.
We will also discuss the weird gray area of New Adult.
November 16th: How to Get in the Words You Need to When Life Intrudes
One of the things Scott gets asked about the most is how do your write when you’re just not feeling it and how to get your word count up with limited writing time. He will discuss a variety of different strategies and ideas for keeping the words flowing.
FAQs
Are there age requirements to attend the class?
This class is aimed at intermediate to advanced fiction writers, because of this, I’d like to limit registration to no younger than teens.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Any questions can be e-mailed to Jennifer at info@jscottsavage.com
What’s the refund policy?
Registrations may be refunded up to three days before the event. No refunds will be available after that.
Is my registration fee transferrable?
You may resell or transfer your registration to another attendee.
Is it ok if the name on my registration doesn’t match the person who attends?
Yes. Just let us know the e-mail address of who should be contacted with class info.
Can I stream the class if I can’t attend?
Yes. All classes will be recorded, including Q&A. We will send out recording links after the class.
