Creative Writing Workshops with Bre Stephens

These workshops are for writers to hone their craft and querying skills while also gaining valuable feedback. Writers will receive links and resources in class that will help them improve their skills, analyze their work, and create community. There are two tracks for writers to choose from: a 4-week and an 8-week concentration of study, both once per week. Following are the current workshops open for enrollment:

Crafting the Query Package 

Self-Editing Practices

​Platform Building

​The Craft of Writing

Crafting the Query Package
​(4 weeks)

Writers will meet once per week for 4 weeks. This track will focus on crafting a query package. By the end of this workshop, writers will have an evaluated package to use in querying their work.

Week 1 - The Synopsis
  • How to write a synopsis
  • What to include in a synopsis
  • Examples of synopses
  • Critique of participants' synopses
Week 2 - The Query Letter
  • Formatting
  • Parts of the query letter
  • How to write a query letter
  • Examples of query letters
  • Critique of participants' query letters
Week 3 - The Manuscript
  • Importance of first 10 pages
  • How to make Chapter 1 attract readers
  • Examples of manuscripts
  • Critique of participants' first 10 pages
Week 4 - The Agent
  • What agents do and don't do
  • How to find an agent
  • Querying an agent
  • The Pitch
  • The Call
  • Examples of queries
  • Critique of participants' full querying package

BONUS: ALL participants eligible to join Bre's new writing forum, an inclusive writing community that uplifts and supports writers as they move through their writing journey.

Saturdays
11am-1pm (EST)

May 7, 14, 21, 28

$160
one-time payment
($40/class)

SELECT for type
Deadline to join the class is
May 6, 2022.

Need a payment plan?
4 weekly payments of $40

Select class
Need a MONTHLY payment plan? Contact Bre.

Self-Editing Practices
​(4 weeks)

Writers will meet once per week for 4 weeks. This track will focus on learning and progressing the author's editing skills. By the end of this workshop, writers will have edited up to 3 chapters of their manuscripts, using the editing strategies and techniques learned in class.

Week 1 - Developmental Editing
  • What is developmental editing
  • Developmental editing exercises/samples
  • Show versus telling
  • Critique of Chapter 1
Week 2 - Line Editing
  • What is line editing
  • Line editing exercises/samples
  • Emotive versus static word choice
  • Syntax and grammar
  • Critique of Chapter 2
Week 3 - Copy Editing
  • Importance of copy editing
  • Copy editing exercises/samples
  • Review of punctuation and meaning
  • Grammar errors to avoid
  • Critique of Chapter 3
Week 4 - Proofreading
  • Strategies for deeper proofreading
  • Proofreading exercises/samples
  • Peer critique over Chapters
  • In-class revision
  • ​Presentation of Chapter 1-3 for final review

BONUS: ALL participants eligible to join Bre's new writing forum, an inclusive writing community that uplifts and supports writers as they move through their writing journey.

Saturdays
2pm-4pm (EST)

May 7, 14, 21, 28

$160
one-time payment
($40/class)

SELECT for type
Deadline to join the class is
May 6, 2022.

Need a payment plan?
4 weekly payments of $40

Select class
Need a MONTHLY payment plan? Contact Bre.

Platform Building
​(4 weeks)

Writers will meet once per week for 4 weeks. This track will focus on building and strengthening the author's online presence and reach through the marketing and promotional tools of a website and social media platforms. By the end of this workshop, writers will have built or refined their platform to expand their writing business and readership, which includes (re-)creating their unique author brand and website, as well as strengthen their use of social media/blogs to drive website traffic.

Week 1 - The Author Brand
  • Who are you as a writer?
  • What is your brand, color, message?
  • Discussion of marketing and promotion through branding
  • Select author headshot
Week 2 - The website
  • Which platform is best for your brand?
  • Domains and email
  • Building with readability in mind
  • What to include and not include
  • Build the website
Week 3 - Social Media
  • Which social media matches your branding?
  • Best platforms for different personalities
  • BookTok verus Bookstagram
  • Facebook versus Twitter
  • Refine socials to include new branding
Week 4 - Marketing Strategies
  • Driving traffic to website
  • The blog connection
  • Engagement: From socials to website
  • The importance of online networking
  • The 80/20 rule of marketing
  • ​Using your platform to drive reach and sales

BONUS: ALL participants eligible to join Bre's new writing forum, an inclusive writing community that uplifts and supports writers as they move through their writing journey.

Saturdays
5pm-7pm (EST)

May 7, 14, 21, 28

$160
one-time payment
($40/class)

SELECT for type
Deadline to join the class is
May 6, 2022.

Need a payment plan?
4 weekly payments of $40

Select class
Need a MONTHLY payment plan? Contact Bre.

The Craft of Writing
​(8 weeks)

Writers will meet once per week for 8 weeks. This track will focus on honing craft, revising & strengthening a current manuscript, understanding the publishing industry, and finding an agent/publisher. By the end of this workshop, writers will have strengthened their ability to write impactful stories while also revising a considerable amount of their work.

Week 1 - World Building
  • Elements of world building
  • Establishing the world without an info dump
  • Examples of world building in modern literature
  • Critique of participants' world building
Week 2 - Characterization
  • Tools for character creation
  • Elements of characterization
  • Creating a strong antagonist
  • Examples of character
  • Critique of participants' characterization
Week 3 - Dialogue
  • Creating strong dialogue
  • Strategies for replacing weak dialogue
  • Testing authenticity
  • Examples of dialogue
  • Critique of participants' dialogue
Week 4 - The Story
  • Story structure
  • Elements of plot
  • Showing not telling
  • Word choices for impactful storytelling
  • Grammar and sentence structure
  • Examples of story
  • Critique of participants' story
Week 5 - Editing & Revising
  • The 3 levels of editing: developmental, line, and copy
  • Editing from an editor's perspective
  • Self-editing tips
  • Examples of editing
  • Critique of participants' editing
Week 6 - Industry Trends
  • Current publishing trends (topics vary)
  • Publisher's Marketplace
  • Researching trends
Week 7 - Marketing & Publicity
  • Platform building
  • Social media for authors
  • Bookstores and libraries
  • Self-marketing tips
  • Examples of websites
  • Critique of participants' platforms
Week 8 - Obtaining an Agent
  • How to find an agent
  • What agents do and don't do
  • Querying for representation
  • The Pitch
  • Examples of queries
  • Critique of participants' full querying packages

BONUS: ALL participants eligible to join Bre's FREE writing forum, an inclusive writing community that uplifts and supports writers as they move through their writing journey.

Fridays
6pm-8pm (EST)

May 6, 13, 20, 27
​June 3, 10, 17, 24

$320
one-time payment
($40/class)

SELECT for type
Deadline to join the class is
May 5, 2022.

Need a payment plan?
8 weekly payments of $40

Need a MONTHLY payment plan? Contact Bre.