This course digs deep into the similarities (and differences) of authoritarianism between the modern United States and Nazi Germany, provides context and perspective, answers big questions, and provides steps on what to do next in the US. *Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Start with the final section (#15), then go back to the beginning for the details! *This course was recorded on June 30th, 2025.

Audiences around the world praise the South Korean television thriller, "Squid Game," as an absolute must-see. But what makes it so engaging? Among many elements, writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk is a master of crucibles and tension, which are essential for compelling story and propulsive plot. This session methodically breaks down these craft elements in Season 1 for use in your own writing, no matter your genre.

Based on the bestselling video games, "The Last of Us" is an international phenomenon. But the hype is for more than a bunch of zombie mushroom people. This session looks at the exquisite balancing act of Season 1, including how the writing maintains equilibrium in mood, tone, and multiple characters. These are essential craft elements for writers of all genres to keep readers engaged without causing them exhaustion.

Throughout history, the written word has changed minds and soothed hearts in times of upheaval. But many writers feel lost or overwhelmed with possibility when tackling social justice issues in their stories. This session looks at some steps to help pinpoint the social justice focuses in your work, how to portray them on the page, and how to make them part of your character’s lives in effective ways for your reader.

Many writers are concerned about their safety when presenting at events, whether virtual or in-person. This talk will provide tips for bolstering author safety, as well as weighing pros and cons of participating in a given event. Unpublished writers, cishet writers, librarians, booksellers, and event coordinators are welcome.

Disney villains, disaster lesbians, and hot trans messes, oh my! In this session, we’ll look at how to write queer characters who are...less than pure and innocent. This includes “good” messy queers, “bad” messy queers, stereotypes, redemption, interiority, productive discomfort, the act of nudging, empathetic antagonism, and mainstream media representations. This is one of my most popular sessions and packs a lot!

Writers love to write, but it's often a different situation when it comes to the business side of things. While publicity and marketing continue to be shrouded in mystery for most writers, this session will look at the difference between the two, what they can and can't achieve, publicity timelines, how to work with a publicist, how to hire a freelance publicist, questions to ask, and more.

"Platform" and "branding" are two of the most hated words in all of the writing community. The bad news is they're necessary if you want to help turn your debut book into a career. The good news is this process isn't as bad as you might think. This session looks at the difference between platform and brand, how to create both in ways that are comfortable and authentic to you, social media alternatives, and more.

Between elections, pandemics, police brutality, climate change, and a host of other difficult situations, I receive this question often: Why bother? What’s the point of being artistic during troubled times? This session looks at science-backed studies, logic-based stances, and perspective from writers who've been through difficulty.