Imagine if you could improve your fiction by 100%...How good would it be then? How far could it go?With revision, the possibilities of your fiction are unlimited! Self-Critique for Fiction Writers is an online course that will teach you how to be your own editor. You'll look at over 100 aspects of your fiction writing and ways to improve them.
Since the course is taught by e-mail, you can learn from anywhere, on your own schedule. Once a week for eight weeks, you will get a new lesson in your inbox. The first lesson will normally be sent to you within an hour after you sign up. During the two months of this course, you'll follow a step-by-step roadmap to revise your story or novel (if you don't have a finished manuscript yet, that's okay too -- the course will also give you tools for writing a stronger first draft). Here's are just A FEW of the topics covered.
OVER 100 TOPICS OVERALL! 
Self-Critique for Fiction Writers is taught by Nancy Strauss, the Online Courses Director at CreativeWriting Now. Nancy has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan, where she has also taught creative and expository writing. What you get in the courseSelf-Critique for Fiction Writers includes:
*Note: With the e-mail support included in the course, you can ask questions about writing in general and get answers from a teacher. But if you would like instead to have a teacher read your writing or comment on it, you will need to sign up for a Teacher Critique (See below). We guarantee the value of this course. If you change your mind any time during the first 20 days, you can ask for a refund. Self-Critique for Fiction Writers Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Description Writing Secrets (16 weeks of writing classes!) Includes: 4 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, the chance to ask a teacher general questions. (If you would like teacher feedback on your writing, please purchase a Teacher Critique -- see below.) Total price: $44  Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Teacher Critique Includes: A professional critique of 1 story or novel excerpt of up to 10,000 words in length, + 2 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, and the chance to ask questions to a teacher. Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Description Writing Secrets + Teacher Critique Includes: A professional critique of 1 story or novel excerpt of up to 10,000 words in length, + 4 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, and the chance to ask questions to a teacher. Self-Critique for Fiction Writers contains everything you need to revise your fiction. The lessons are very easy to understand, and if you have any questions, you can e-mail one of our teachers. This course is extremely comprehensive, covering over 100 aspects of fiction writing all in the same course. If you choose to buy Self-Critique for Fiction Writers with Description Writing Secrets at the same time, you get an extra 2 months of classes for only $10 more. This option offers the most exceptional value for the price. If you have a specific need for professional feedback during your revision process, then a Teacher Critique might be right for you. Self-Critique for Fiction Writers will show you how to critique and improve YOUR OWN writing. However, we know that some students also want feedback from a teacher. To accommodate those students, we have decided to offer an optional Teacher Critique service. If you sign up for a Teacher Critique, you will get everything included in Self-Critique for Fiction Writers, plus you'll be able to send a story or novel excerpt (up to 10,000 words) to a writing teacher and get feedback by e-mail. You can use your Teacher Critique during the eight weeks of the course, or for up to 2 months after you receive the last lesson. (Your critiquer may be either Nancy or another qualified writing teacher.) Sign up for both courses together for only $10 more. That's 16 whole weeks of writing classes! "Half-way through the Description Writing course, I came across a story I had written at the beginning of the Essentials of Fiction course and couldn't help but compare the two pieces. I saw that my writing had improved 100%." -Jill Gairdner 1) During the first 8 weeks, we'll send you Description Writing Secrets. You'll learn descriptive writing techniques to bring your fiction to life in the reader's imagination. 2) During the second 8 weeks, we'll send you Self-Critique for Fiction Writers and take you step-by-step through the process of revising and improving your fiction.
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the course. Q: How/when will I get my lessons? A: Your lessons will be sent to you by e-mail, once a week for eight weeks. Here's how it works: when you purchase the course, you will be asked for an e-mail address. After your purchase is complete, you will normally receive the first lesson within one hour. Q: What if I don't have anything that I'm ready to revise? A: That's fine. You can use what you learn in the course to write a stronger first draft. And you'll have a complete roadmap for revision whenever the time comes to use it. Q: What if I've already in the middle of revising something? A: Perfect. You can easily adapt the lessons to fit your own revision process. The lessons will give you a checklist to make sure you're reviewing all aspects of your manuscript. The lessons will also help you solve the problems you find when you revise. Q: How much time will I need for the course? A: You can complete the course on your own schedule, returning to the lessons whenever you have enough time. Of course, you'll get more out of the course if you put more into it. Q: Is the course just for fiction writing, or will it help me write essays, articles, poetry, etc.? A: The course is focused on fiction-writing (short stories or novels). If you are mainly interested in writing essays, articles, poetry, or another genre, this course may not be right for you. Q: Will I have to buy any books or additional materials? A: There are no additional materials required for the course. The online format will also save you money versus an offline course, where you would have logistical expenses such as transportation, parking, childcare, and so on. Q: What if I don't understand something in one of the lessons? A: No worries. You can e-mail us, and a teacher will answer your questions about the course. Q: How do I get feedback on my writing assignments? A: If you would like a teacher to send you one-on-one feedback on your fiction, consider signing up for a Teacher Critique. However, if you decide not to purchase a Teacher Critique, you can still publish your writing on the course blog, where your classmates might comment on it. Q: How soon do I have to decide? A: If you're really interested in taking this course, it is safer to sign up now while it's still open. Q: What if I change my mind after I purchase the course? A: No problem! If you change your mind, just ask us for a refund. You can send us an e-mail any time during the first 20 days (or before a teacher starts preparing feedback for you if you've purchased a Teacher Critique), and just tell us you've changed your mind, then we'll refund 100% of your payment. No hassle; no hard feelings. So you actually have nothing to lose by signing up for the course now. Q: What if my question was not answered here? A: Please just send us an e-mail, and we'll be delighted to answer all your questions.
Sign up now Self-Critique for Fiction Writers Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Description Writing Secrets (16 weeks of writing classes!) Includes: 4 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, the chance to ask a teacher general questions. (If you would like teacher feedback on your writing, please purchase a Teacher Critique -- see below.) Total price: $44 Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Teacher Critique Includes: A professional critique of 1 story or novel excerpt up to 10,000 words in length, + 2 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, and the chance to ask questions to a teacher. Self-Critique for Fiction Writers + Description Writing Secrets + Teacher Critique Includes: A professional critique of 1 story or novel excerpt of up to 10,000 words in length, + 4 months of weekly course e-mails, weekly assignments, the chance to publish writing on the course blog, and the chance to ask questions to a teacher. P.S. - Still not sure? Give it a test run. Sign up for the basic version of the course (without the Teacher Critique) and see what you think. You have 20 days to decide if it's for you or ask for a refund. |
Feedback on our Online Courses
"One of my stories, "Bubble", has been published. If I hadn't taken your course I couldn't even imagine that. Many, many thanks for inspiring me."
- Rasheed
"I loved absolutely everything about the Description Writing course especially Lesson 3, Description and Mood. I thoroughly had fun with this particular lesson because I took the same story I had written and turned it from a serious story into a funny story. I felt like a sponge, absorbing all I could from your course.
I saw a big change in my writing since I took the first course you offered - Essentials of Fiction - I took this course originally because I had always wanted to write since I was a child but sometimes life has a way of stopping us from our desires, at least for a while. I wanted to see if I really could write or if I was hung up on some childhood fantasy. Essentials of Fiction proved, to me at least, that I could indeed write and I wrote everyday, much to my boyfriend's dismay (waa sniff)...
Half-way through the Description Writing course, I came across a story I had written at the beginning of the Essentials of Fiction course and couldn't help but compare the two pieces. I saw that my writing had improved 100%.
When I shared my writing with my boyfriend... he'd say things like, "that's not bad" or "that's pretty good". Now he tells me "You're a natural."... I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much not only for the lessons you have taught me but also for restoring my faith in myself and encouraging me not to let anyone stop me. Thank you."
- Jill Gairdner
"I've really enjoyed this course and it's given me a lot of ah-hah experiences along the way. I've been writing for years but sometimes wondered why my writing often feels flat and dull. Looking back over the scripts and stories I've written, I've found that the ones I've liked, that I enjoyed writing and that came alive, were the ones which were vivid.
I think it's this word "vivid" which is most important. Roald Dahl wrote that one of the prerequisites of being a writer was that - "You should be able to write well. By that I mean you should be able to make a scene come alive in the reader's mind."
So, I'd say that first and foremost, this course has helped me to do just that. And of course, for the scene to come alive in the reader's mind it first has to be alive in the writer's mind.
Another thing I've found out through doing this course is that a lot of the work of writing is done unconsciously. For instance, when I've read these 10 minute writing exercises I've allowed myself time, maybe three or four days, to do other things and not to think consciously of the exercise or how I'm going to do it. It's a bit like baking - you allow the dough to yeast for a while. Don't touch it, just let the natural process work without interference.
I've found that by allowing this yeasting process to work, the exercise seems almost to do itself. I sit down, get centred and find that the pictures are already there.
Anyway, thanks very much for this course. It's been a lot of fun and it's actually been very useful for my screenwriting as well."
- Robin Gott
Feedback on our Critiques
"I appreciated the way it was presented and I agree with so many of the points that were made. I think that the suggested changes will benefit my story and my chances of being published. Also, I had no idea that it would happen so quickly. Good experience all around."
- Mary Bowman
"I like that she itemized how she perceived the story's structure. I'm not good with seeing story structure yet and it really helped to have it shown to me with one of my own stories instead stories by someone else. I also liked that I was given suggestions for how to implement the suggested changes or correct the indicated errors."
- Sandra S. Richardson
"I found the critique very constructive, including plenty of positive points as well as the areas that need work. The critique was very in depth."
- Kelly McCarty
"Thank you Nancy for your critique. This is really helping me to understand where I need to develop more as a writer."
- Victoria Simonovitch