Announcing: From Spark to Story
A five-week workshop to transform your raw idea into a compelling story concept, starting April 30.
Have you ever been haunted by a story idea that just won't let go? Maybe it came to you in a dream, or while people-watching at a café, or during a long drive when your mind was free to wander. Perhaps you've jotted it down in a notebook, promising yourself you'd do something with it someday.
Well, dear writers, that day has arrived.
I'm thrilled to announce my newest writing workshop: From Spark to Story: The Novelist's Idea Development Workshop. This five-week journey is designed to transform your raw ideas into fully developed novel concepts that will engage readers and sustain your own creative energy through the long process of writing a novel.
Why This Workshop? Why Now?
After publishing several novels and mentoring writers, I've noticed a pattern. Many aspiring novelists get stuck at the very beginning. They have an interesting idea but struggle to develop it into something substantial enough to support an entire book.
I've been there myself. My novel Sisters and Lovers began as a vague notion about sisters supporting each other through troubled relationships. I'd start writing with just that seed but quickly run out of steam. So I decided to take some time to focus and refine my idea. I developed it into a full concept with compelling characters, meaningful goals, and engaging conflicts.
That development process is what I'll share with you in this workshop.
What to Expect Each Week
This guided, step-by-step approach will unfold over four weeks, with each week building on the previous one. In week five, we’ll wrap it all up.
Week One: Pick Your Basic Idea
We'll start by identifying or refining your core story idea. I'll share proven sources of inspiration and guide you through selecting an idea with real potential. If you already have an idea, wonderful! We'll make sure it's focused and compelling. If you're starting from scratch, I'll help you discover something that resonates with you.
Week Two: Expand Your Idea with a Character and a Goal
Here's where we breathe life into your idea by creating a main character with a burning desire. I'll show you how to craft characters whose goals and motivations will drive your story forward. This is the emotional core of your novel—the element that makes readers care about what happens next. And you as the author, too.
Week Three: Turn Your Expanded Idea into a Premise
This is where the magic happens! We'll introduce conflict—the secret ingredient that transforms a good story into a great one. Using powerful "what if" questions, we'll develop a premise that presents meaningful obstacles to your character's goals. I'll guide you through the five main types of literary conflict and help you choose the most compelling ones for your story.
Week Four: Turn Your Premise into a Concept
In our final week, we'll synthesize everything into a clear, powerful concept statement that captures the essence of your novel. This statement will serve as your creative guide throughout the writing process and can eventually become your elevator pitch for agents and publishers.
Week Five: It’s a Wrap. I’ll review and summarize all that we’ve covered during the previous four weeks. You’ll be invited to ask questions and offer suggestions for future challenges.
What You'll Create
By the end of our five weeks together, you'll have:
A strong, well-developed concept for your novel
A main character with clear goals and motivations
A premise filled with conflict that will keep readers turning pages and inspire you to write
A concise concept statement that can serve as an elevator pitch
A clear direction for your next steps in the writing process
More importantly, you'll have the confidence that comes with knowing your story idea has genuine potential. You'll be equipped with a roadmap that will guide you through writing your novel.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is ideal for:
First-time novelists who need guidance in developing their ideas
Experienced writers with an idea they want to flesh out properly
Writers who have started novels but gotten stuck because the underlying concept wasn't strong or enticing enough
Anyone who has a story idea but isn't sure if it has the potential to become a full novel
I designed this workshop based on my own experiences writing bestselling novels and the questions I'm most frequently asked by emerging writers. The techniques I'll share are the exact ones I use when developing my novels.
How It Will Work
Each week, you'll receive a detailed lesson with that week's exercise. I've designed the exercises to be straightforward yet impactful, requiring just enough work to be meaningful without overwhelming you.
You'll have a full week to complete each exercise. While I encourage you to keep pace with the weekly schedule, all materials will remain available after the workshop ends (for paid subscribers).
The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. We're not trying to plan every aspect of your novel—we're focusing exclusively on developing a solid concept that will serve as the foundation for everything else.
Ready to Turn Your Idea into a Story?
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 30, when our first exercise drops. In the meantime, start paying attention to those story ideas that have been surfacing. Which one refuses to let go? Which one makes you think, "I wish someone would write a book about that"?
That might be the spark we'll transform into your next novel.
I can't wait to begin this journey with you. After years of developing novels, I know how transformative this process can be. There's nothing like watching a vague idea take shape into something with real power and potential.
As with all writing challenges and workshops at Behind the Chapters, this will be available to paid subscribers only. (I love doing them, but a lot of work goes into creating and hosting these workshops.) You’ll have access to all course lessons and exercises as long as you remain a paid subscriber. So take as much time as you need to go through all the lessons. You’ll also gain access to previous challenges.
Lesson 1 starts HERE.
P.S. Have questions about the workshop? Leave them in the comments below, and I'll be happy to reply!