Topics for 2025:

January – Making Readers Hungry (Food in Fiction)
This month we will discuss how to write about food in fiction. Food is something we all share, and it can help ground your characters, bring your setting alive and offer ways into epiphanies and sharing information. Join the discussion to consider: How do you pick out evocative details when writing about food? If you’re writing a genre where readers want to see recipes in the back of the book, how can you plan ahead to make the process seamless? And how can you use food to connect readers to your story? 

February — What is YOUR Writing Style?
This month we will consider the writing style of some famous writers. Each writer has something unique to bring go the table, and studying the work of others is a way to find your own style. Join the discussion to consider: How have writing styles changed over time? How does a writer’s personal experience shape their writing style? How do different writers deal with character, setting and theme?

March — Getting In Touch with Your Characters’ Emotions
This month we will consider how to get in touch with your characters’ emotions. If readers can’t understand a character’s emotions in a given scene, especially when something dangerous or heartbreaking happens, they may find the character distant, unknowable or akin to a cardboard cutout. Join the discussion to consider: What is the difference between emotional development and emotional change? How can you include nonverbal emotional clues? What is self-awareness?

April — Creative Writing Exercises from Famous Authors
This month we will consider a number creative writing exercises proposed by famous authors. Many writers are also teachers. In this interactive session we will take a go at some of the exercise. Join the discussion to consider: Which writing exercises are effective for you? How can you deepen different aspects of your writing? How can you open yourself up to new writing experiences?

May — Managing Information in Your Fiction
This month we will discuss ways creative writing is all about controlling information. This is why traditional plot structures work, and the use of foreshadowing can be so tricky. Join the discussion to consider: How do creative writers shape information to persuade readers to believe their stories? Are plots basically decision trees made by the characters? How important is the timing and approach for meet cutes, character introductions, and other important scenes?

June — Humor in Fiction Writing
This month we will discuss including humor in fiction writing. It can be easy for fiction to feel one note if a full range of character emotions isn’t explored. Most fictional works need lighter moments, and incorporating humor can round out characters and decrease tension in dark situations. Join the discussion to consider: How can you effectively employ the rule of threes? What is a setup and a payoff? How can you write banter that matches the rest of your book?

July — Tragedy in Fiction Writing
This month we will discuss tragedy in fiction writing. Not all stories have a happy ending, and sometimes stories that do have characters who face tragedy along the way sill have a happy ending. Join the discussion to consider: What are tragic flaws, and how can you design flaws the emphasize your chosen theme? What kind of plots are suited to a tragedy? How can you subtly foreshadow to the reader that they are in for a tragedy?

August — Understanding a foil character
This month we will discuss understanding foil characters. Sometimes a character is best understood in terms of contrast. A foil character shows the opposite traits of the original character, in order to highlight them. Join the discussion to consider: How is a foil character the mirror of the original character? Is this character necessarily antagonist? What are examples of memorable foil characters?

September — Discovering Ann Lamotte’s Bird By Bird
This month we will discuss Ann Lamotte’s Bird by Bird, a writing instruction book that has been formative for many writers. Join the discussion to consider: What are the benefits of messy first drafts? How does perfectionism hinder creativity? How can you find your authentic voice?

October — Elements of a Thriller
This month we will discuss the difference between thriller, mystery and suspense. These all relate to exciting genres, but what makes a book or a film specifically a thriller? Join the discussion to consider: How do suspense, tension and anxiety play together in a thriller? How can you manipulate the pacing in your story to make it a page turner? How can you make sure your stakes are high enough?

November — Breaking Down a Save the Cat Beat Sheet
This month we will discuss how to break down the sections of a Save the Cat Beat Sheet. There are a number of beat sheet models that writers use to structure a manuscript or script. The Save the Cat beat sheet uses different terminology from most, but can be used in similar ways to other beat sheets. Join the discussion to consider: What are story beats? What does Blake mean by, “Fun and games?” How can you create an effective, “All is lost,” moment?

December — Making Your Worldbuilding Seamless
This month we will discuss how to make your worldbuilding seamless. Whether you are writing contemporary fiction, historicals or speculative fiction, the world you create needs to be internally consistent. Join the discussion to consider: How do you set rules for your world? How does the iceberg principle apply? How do you create a world that feels like it expands beyond the edges of the page? 

Want more writing advice from Amber?