Dec. 14, 2024 — Jeanette Smith on How to Edit Sticky Sentences Why do readers adore certain sentences and trip over others? It could have to do with those tricky sentences being full of glue words. In this presentation, you’ll discover what glue words are, how they make sentences “sticky,” and why unsticking them can … Read more

Sept. 7, 2024 – Susan Kaye Quinn: Rummaging in the Hopepunk Bin to Freshen Up Your Stories

Hopepunk is more a vibe than a genre. Solarpunk is hopepunk’s climate-conscious cousin. Come learn about these fresh new genres, how they’re challenging the “status quo” way we tell stories with new structures like Heroine’s Journey, team casts rather than lone heroes, and radical compassion and cooperation as problem-solving techniques. Suggested readings/viewings: (optional — not required … Read more

June 1, 2024. Gail Eastwood: Great Expectations

Note: This is a change in our speaker schedule. The start of your story has to hook the reader’s interest right away. But that’s not all! Strong first chapters have to establish at least eight other story basics. Learn what those are, discuss comparative starting points and types of openings, and more. Bring some favorite … Read more

October 5, 2024: Renita McKinney on Tropes & Trends

Renita McKinney returns this Fall to talk with us about tropes and trends in romance novels. As the founder and owner of A Book a Day Author Services (https://www.abookaday.biz/), Renita reads hundreds of books each year. She provides developmental and sensitivity edits for many authors and gives public presentations from her areas of expertise. Because … Read more

December 9, 2023:

Roundtable Writing Discussion in person at the Exeter Library and via ZOOM  [Exeter Public Library: 773 Ten Rod Road Rt, 102, Exeter, RI 02822 ] Come join your fellow writers for a free-ranging discussion! Topics will include how to use flashbacks within the context of our stories, go-to craft books/websites, and what we’ve learned this … Read more

November 4, 2023:

RENITA McKinney: Let’s Include Everyone Workshop Details: Being sensitive to ethnic, cultural and societal issues in your prose is very important. Sometimes, even though it’s not intended, you can cross a line that might offend certain members of your reader base. A Book A Day Author Services is very aware of these issues and has … Read more