Resources, insights, and inspiration for writers at every stage of their journey.
From the instructors who have helped over 100,000 aspiring authors learn their craft.
Recent Articles
- Everything You Need to Know About Book Publishing
Successful author Kevin Kelly has written the best guide to publishing I’ve ever read. It’s called Everything I Know About Publishing and Self-Publishing. Here are some of the best take-aways: “Traditional book publishers have lost… - The Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot
Lester Dent (1904–1959) was a prolific pulp fiction author who wrote hundreds of stories. He is best known as the principal author of the Doc Savage series, featuring a superhuman hero. Dent developed a formula—a master plot—for… - From Farm Fields to Fiction: How Writing Academy Helped Janet Achieve Her Publishing Dream
After a lifetime on a farm in southern Ontario, Janet traded crops for creativity and began cultivating words instead of soil. Her journey from rural life to published author began with poetry, when her poem Follow… - Animal Genders in Children’s Books
Children’s picture books are filled with talking animals—but did you know that these characters are overwhelmingly male? A recent data‑driven feature from The Pudding reveals that male animal characters are referenced twice as often as… - Writing Academy Celebrates 25 Years!
What started as just one class back in 2000 has turned into an array of classes, services and books offered worldwide. Writing Academy now offers five classes taught by Steve Alcorn through more than 1500… - Plot vs. Story
Plot vs. Story: The Key to Writing a Compelling Novel Many writers, even seasoned ones, often confuse the terms plot and story, using them interchangeably. However, as I explain in How to Fix Your Novel,… - Are Paperbacks Going Away?
In recent years, the publishing industry has witnessed a notable decline in paperback editions, particularly in adult nonfiction. Between 2019 and 2024, new adult nonfiction paperback titles decreased by 42%, dropping to just under 40,000…. - A Scientific Approach to Scene and Sequel
Author Ian Fanselow breaks down his methodical approach to writing with an example scene from his new novel “Worlds Apart” I am a very methodical person and planning is my strength. So when I learned… - Manuscript Evaluation Checklist
- Writing “Penelope’s Big Dream”
Author Mónica Vidalón takes us through the process of writing and publishing her Children’s Book Even though my background is in business and advertising, I have always been passionate about writing and illustrating books for… - What defines the “mystery” genre?
Mysteries come in many different flavors, from cozies to hard-boiled detectives. So what unites all these disparate plots under one umbrella? All mysteries share 3 things in common A secret, unknown to both protagonist and… - How to Write a Book Synopsis that Makes Agents or Publishers say, “Show Me More!”
To convince an agent or publisher your manuscript is one they should pay attention to, you need to have a great synopsis. Specific guidelines may vary, but as a rule of thumb, a synopsis is…
About Writing Academy
Writing Academy offers comprehensive video courses for aspiring authors. Whether you’re writing your first novel, exploring screenwriting, or ready to publish, our self-paced courses provide the structure and guidance you need.
Fiction Writing
- Novel Writing Workshop
- Romance Writing Workshop
- Mystery Writing Workshop
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Young Adult Fiction
- Writing for Children
- Short Story Writing
- Suspense & Horror
Craft & Publishing
- Nine Secrets of Story Structure
- Scenes That Sell Your Story
- Navigating the Editing Process
- Publish Your Book Now
- Write Your Life Story
- Travel Writing
- Non-Fiction Workshop
- Screenwriting Workshop
Your Instructors
Steve Alcorn
USA Today bestselling author of twenty novels and non-fiction books, including mysteries, young adult novels, children’s books, and the acclaimed writer’s guide How to Fix Your Novel. Steve also founded Alcorn McBride Inc, which provides audio and video systems for theme parks worldwide.
Dani Alcorn
Author, instructor, editor, and mentor. Dani trained in screenwriting at Northwestern University and the University of British Columbia and worked as a professional medical writer. She is the author of screenplays and a science fiction novel.