Steven James is the critically-acclaimed author of seventeen novels. He has served as a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and is the author of the groundbreaking book Story Trumps Structure as well as the guidebook used by thousands of novelists, Troubleshooting Your Novel, both from Writer’s Digest Books. Publishers Weekly calls him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.” When he’s not working on his next novel, Steven teaches Novel Writing Intensive retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Steven’s latest book, a near-future sci-fi thriller called Synapse, released on October 8.  

Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules MASTER CLASS - When you focus on what lies at the heart of story—tension, desire, crisis, escalation, struggle, discovery—rather than plot templates and formulas, you’ll begin to break out of the box and write fiction that resonates with your readers. This workshop is filled with practical insights, dozens of ways to fix plot flaws, time-tested writing secrets, and easy-to-implement ideas. 

Pulling the Rug Out: How to Craft Twists Your Readers Will Never See Coming - A great twist will be unexpected, inevitable, an escalation of what preceded it, and a revelation that adds meaning to what has already occurred. Readers want to predict how a story will end, but they also want to be wrong—yet still satisfied. Everyone tells you to include a good twist, yet no one tells you how. Until now. In this seminar you’ll discover how to develop endings that leave your readers stunned, thrilled, and panting for more.