I am a teacher, editor and book doctor with an interest in holistic approaches to writing and creativity. I guide writers in ways to tell their stories.
I lead online masterclasses and workshops in creative writing. Masterclasses focus on craft and publishing, offering introductory overviews and fresh perspectives for beginning as well as experienced writers. Workshops provide inspirations and departure points for new writing as well as revising works-in-progress.
I work directly with writers, offering developmental editing and mentoring tailored for each individual writer. My areas of expertise include literary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, horror, science fiction, crime, thrillers, and popular fiction. My interests in nonfiction include memoir, history, current affairs, esoterica, and writing about nature, gardens, travel, and food.
My site includes a large library of resources on writing and publishing, including over a hundred writing experiments. My blog features a wealth of posts on craft and practice, and my DIY MA in creative writing is a free syllabus for writers building their own structured course of studies.
Follow these links for further details about my background and approach, including information on my career in book publishing as well as my studies and teaching at Naropa University and elsewhere. Subscribe for news about blog posts, future classes, and other updates.Â
Recent Blog Posts
Cases of Dialogue
My next Zoom masterclass, Showing and Telling on 20 October, is devoted to scenecraft and narration, and dialogue will be one of the topics under discussion. Once upon a time I read a
A Case of Style
When I teach my masterclass on Perspective and Style, I look at techniques that can make a piece of writing into its own distinct thing and develop our voices in writing.Â
Back To Blogging
Hello again! I’ve not been posting much on my blog this last year or so. I started posting on Substack with the idea it might become a good teaching or