Outliers Online Ongoing Writers Conference
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All classes are taught by working, best-selling authors
2 Classes per month, every month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 4 pm Pacific Time
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JOIN AT ANY TIME
classes are ongoing month after month
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NOTE: You can begin your subscription at any time and access 2 classes/month for the duration of your subscription. For example, if you subscribe for 1 year on April 1, you will get 2 classes/month until March 31 of the following year.
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Each class will remain available to students for 10 days after its presentation so if you miss one, or simply want to view it again, a provided link will allow access.
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SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS
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Annual Subscription Single Pay (Best Bargain): $900/year
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Annual Subscription Monthly Pay: $80/month
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OR
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Sign up for individual classes: $45/Each
(Sign-up links for each class are below)
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2024 SCHEDULE
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9/17: CLASS 18: Highway To The Outline Zone—Tamara Grantham
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Want to know the secret to writing a good book and writing it in record time? Welcome to the Outline Zone! In this class, award-winning author Tamara Grantham shares her secrets on how she’s written more than twenty novels in the past ten years, many of which have become bestsellers. Learn the insider tips on the best outlining practices that will ensure you have a solid novel before you ever write the first word.
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10/1: CLASS 19: Adding Intrigue & Action To Your Prose—Don Bentley
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Learn how to add intrigue and action to your writing with hands on editing exercises as well as thoughts from today’s top thriller writers and editors
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10/15: CLASS 20: Writing Timeless Historical Fiction—Boyd Morrison
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What to think about when crafting historical fiction
Learn how to research historical elements, how to apply aspects of daily life from your chosen time period, and why language and names are so important to establishing the setting.
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11/7: CLASS 21: Plotting the Commercial Thriller--Jeffrey Deaver
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***NOTE: This Class is onThursday 11-7-24, 4 pm Pacific Time
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Whether you write thrillers or want a thrilling plot for your story, learn the process from a master storyteller.
11/19: CLASS 22: Getting Your Book Published—John/Shannon Raab
You've written a book, now you need an agent or a publisher and don't know where to go or what to do. We will teach you how to avoid common mistakes and give you a road map to follow and help navigate around the publishing business.
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12/3: CLASS 23: Social Media Marketing: Your Online Presence and Other Marketing Strategies—Magen Mintchev
You’ve written your book, prepped it for publication, and now must find your readers. This class offers the tips and tricks you need for a successful book marketing campaign
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12/17: CLASS 24: It’s Not Enough To Write A Good Story—Joseph Badal
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How many times have you heard people say, "I have a great idea for a book, but I just don't have the time to write it." The fact that you are writing something differentiates you from the millions who just don't have the time. That difference is passion. But just because you have the passion to write does not mean that what you are writing will be embraced by an editor, a publisher, or readers.
It's not enough to write a good story. There are rules that must be followed in order for your writing to be accepted. Joseph Badal, the author of 19 award-winning suspense novels will share with you a list of writing rules he uses as a template to take his manuscripts from rough drafts to publishable works.
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2025 SCHEDULE
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1/7: CLASS 25: Premise: What Your Story Is About: From What If? To Premise—Kathleen Antrim
Before embarking on the writing journey, it's crucial to understand your book's essence clearly. This class offers a specific exercise to eliminate uncertainty and help you define the premise of your story with precision.
Following that, we will go through a step-by-step method to structure and complete your first draft.
Next, I’ll guide you through a step-by-step process to structure and complete your first draft, culminating in a polished final manuscript.
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1/21: CLASS 26: Putting “Medical Truth” in Your Story
Regardless of genre, a major obstacle for many writers is obtaining the specialized knowledge needed to bring a story to life. This is especially true when scientific or medical issues arise. Whether it is the procedures or inner workings of hospitals, emergency departments, or operating rooms; the functioning of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other paramedical personnel; the mental and physical repercussions of acute or chronic illnesses or injuries such as auto accidents, gunshot wounds, or lightning strikes; the effects of both prescribed and illicit drugs; the impact of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders on victims and their loved ones; or issues in determining the cause and time of death or other forensic procedures; a valid understanding of these complex issues will add depth and drama to any manuscript.
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2/4: CLASS 27: The Mystical Quest: Finding a Literary Agent—Harry Hunsicker
Using hard-fought lessons gleaned from his road to publication, veteran mystery writer Harry Hunsicker discusses the publishing process, literary agents, how to craft a query letter that will generate a positive response and strategies for finding the right agent for your book.
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2/18: CLASS 28: SUSPENSE—Meg Gardiner
Learn from a master how to keep your plot in turmoil—and readers reading
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3/4: CLASS 29: PLOT TWISTS—Meg Gardiner
How do you create surprises that readers never see coming? How do you spring them on your audience in ways they’ll love? Meg Gardiner will show you how.
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3/18: CLASS 30: WHIPLASH PACING: Keep Your Reader on the Edge—KJ Howe
Pacing is a profound yet subtle element of novels that needs special care. Join KJ Howe to discover how to fine tune your pacing so that readers can’t put your novel down.
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4/1: CLASS 31: Simplify Your Storytelling By Writing To The Midpoint—DP Lyle
Constructing a publishable story is no small task. So many things to consider: story structure, plotting, character development, setting, dialog. And of course the inciting incident, the first and second turnings points, and the climax. A lot of balls to keep in the air. The key to a good story is the MIDPOINT. That moment when the character and the story pivot from reactive to proactive. Everything changes. The pace increases, the action escalates, and the tension rises as the climax approaches. So, why not write to and from that critical midpoint? A single guide post for your story? In this class, we will examine examples and look at a few techniques to streamline, and simplify, your writing.
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4/15: CLASS 32: Screenwriting is WRITING--Paul Guyot
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Despite dozens of books and websites telling you screenwriting is simply a math formula to follow, that is 100% untrue. Learn how actual working, professional screenwriters write through this interactive and entertaining course taught by a working professional screenwriter for 25 consecutive years. Learn how to find your Voice, the truth about Structure, and most importantly, learn how NOT to do it!
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5/6: CLASS 33: Scene Study: How to make the most of every scene—STEVEN JAMES
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Every scene will end in one of four ways—and only two of them do anything to move the story forward or contribute to the character’s development. Learn what those two are and, even more importantly, discover how to master the two scene endings that will actually advance and enhance your story. You'll learn:
Why pursuit is far more important than plot, and how to use that insight to inform every scene in your manuscript.
How to know when to summarize a scene and when to render one.
Why it’s essential for characters to fail in order for a story to proceed.
How to start scenes, what stalls them out, and what can propel any scene forward.
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5/20: CLASS 34: Cooking Up Hooks: The Psychology of Grabbing Your Readers—Dr. Katherine Ramsland
To inject narrative momentum, you need hooks—not just the one that grips readers on page one. Hooks occur all the way through, aiding the mood, pace, and voice. They work because our brain is hardwired for expectation, which sets us up for both surprise and satisfaction. Types of hooks will be explored, the way they work, and where to place them in your story.
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6/3: CLASS 35:
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6/17: CLASS 36: What Scares You? Putting Fear on the Page to Thrill Your Readers-Jenny Milchman
Terror isn't just for Stephen King. Much of your story, including setting, stakes, plot, characters and more, depends to a degree on fear. And the reasons for fear are as broad and far-reaching as fiction itself. There might be a monster—human or otherwise—driving your novel. Or something even worse. Anything from a storm in the wilderness to a betrayal between star-crossed lovers can provoke dread…and keep readers turning pages. This workshop will explore the six primary sources of fright and help you learn to tap into them to make your writing the stuff of dreams. Bad dreams, that is.
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7/1: CLASS 37: How to Write Your Way out of a Corner—STEVEN JAMES
Learn how to generate fresh ideas, weave innovative thinking into your writing projects (whether fiction or nonfiction), and improve the shape and craft of the stories you write. We’ll explore and demystify the creative process while discovering simple steps for intensifying the impact of your writing. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned pro, you’ll learn practical, easy-to-master techniques that will save you time while taking your writing to the next level.
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7/15: CLASS 38:
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8/5: CLASS 39: Worldbuilding & Voice—KJ Howe
Full immersion is what you are looking for when penning your novel. Learn how to create a vivid setting and hone a captivating voice—both will help transport readers to the fascinating world that you have created.
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8/19: CLASS 40:
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9/2: CLASS 41:
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9/16: CLASS 42: The Psychology of Character Motivation—DP Lyle
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The strength of every story, regardless of genre, lies in the characters that populate the fictional landscape. Developing full, realistic, and believable characters requires an understanding of the psychological drives that push them to act and react.
Why do people love, hate, envy, loath, and need one another?
Why do they steal, cheat, batter, and kill?
Why do they argue, lie, deceive, threaten, and comfort?
The class will begin with a discussion of the basic psychology that drives character behavior and the forces behind conflict and conflict resolution---the driving force behind thought, action, and dialog. Once these are well in hand, we will look at the conflict-driven character arc of famous protagonists and antagonists. You will then be equipped to apply the principles to your own storytelling and produce a manuscript that will attract attention.
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10/7: CLASS 43:
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10/21: CLASS 44: Tips for Writing and Publishing Short Crime Fiction—Michael Bracken and Stacy Woodson in Conversation
“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build toward it.”
-Edgar Allan Poe.
Short stories require a skill set that’s different from writing a novel. Learn the elements that create a great short story, the different ways to structure them, and how to create a strong narrative drive that leads to a satisfying ending. Instructors will also share how to find markets for short fiction and tips on how to develop working relationships with editors that can lead to a long and rewarding career.
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11/4: CLASS 45:
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11/18: CLASS 46:
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12/2: CLASS 47:
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12/16: CLASS 48: The Subtleties of Voice and Point of View—STEVEN JAMES
What is voice and how does it relate to the POV you’re telling the story from? Learn the subtleties of developing a unique narrative voice and gain an understanding of when to shift to another point of view (and when not to!) and how to use voice and multiple POVs to draw readers in.
You'll learn:
How to uncover your voice and shade each POV section with its own unique flavor.
The nine pitfalls of POV use and how to avoid them.
The role of reader empathy and why it’s overrated.
The dynamic between details and descriptions, and how to leverage them both in your story while staying in your voice.
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CLASSES COMPLETED
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1/2/24: CLASS 1: Premise: What Your Story Is About: From What If? To Premise—Kathleen Antrim
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1/16/24: CLASS 2: The Psychology of Character Motivation—DP Lyle
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2/6/24: CLASS 3: Storytelling: Authors Heather Graham and DP Lyle In Conversation
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2/20: CLASS 4: Structuring Your Novel—Cody Blocker
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3/5: CLASS 5: Heroes and Villains: Bringing Out the Best and the Worst in Your Characters—Steven James
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3/19: CLASS 6: The Art of Pacing—Boyd Morrison
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4/2: CLASS 7: World Building For Any Genre—Tosca Lee
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4/16: CLASS 8: Sidekicks and the Supporting Cast—Allison Brennan
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5/7: CLASS 9: Status: The Key to Creating Three-dimensional Characters—Steven James
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5/21: CLASS 10: Narrative NonFiction—Jon Land
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6/4: CLASS 11: Self Editing 101--KJ Howe
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6/18: CLASS 12: Short Stories and Novellas—Allison Brennan
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7/2: CLASS 13: Managing the Muddle in the Middle—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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7/16: CLASS 14: How To Break Into Ghost Writing—Jon Land
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8/6: CLASS 15: Infusing Your Story With Humor—DP Lyle and Tim Maleeny
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8/20: CLASS 16: Secrets of Suspense—Hank Phillippi Ryan
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9/3: CLASS 17: So Close, So Far Away: Unlocking the Secrets of Psychic Distance—Mark Tavani
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