In 2025, we are offering two separate quarterly webinar series to AWC members. Each series is $50 and will grant you live online access via Zoom on the date of each quarterly webinar as well as a link to the recording for each one, in case you're unable to attend the live presentation or want to watch it again. Each recording will be retained online, so if you register after one or more of the webinars are held, you will still be able to view the ones you missed. You will also receive any handout(s) created for each webinar in the series.
The $50 cost for each series will help to pay for the speaker's honorarium as well as contribute to the Atlanta Writers Club's reserve for scholarships, support of literary activities, and our building fund.
If you are not yet an Atlanta Writers Club member but want to register for one or both webinar series, you will have the option to add AWC membership to your total. You will then also be able to attend our monthly in-person meetings at no charge, participate in our critique groups, enter our contests, and register for periodic standalone online workshops offered free to members.
TD STORM is an award-winning writer and teacher whose work has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies, including Black Warrior Review, Copper Nickel, Jellyfish Review, and Literary Hub. His passion for storytelling and its inner workings informs his teaching, editing, and mentoring. He runs an online writing school (stormwritingschool.com), which offers articles and courses geared toward helping writers hone their craft of engaging and moving stories.
January 9, 2025 at 7PM Eastern
A Taxonomy of Tension
Tension is one of the main drivers of reader engagement in storytelling of any kind. In fact, we could go so far as to say stories without tension are dead on arrival. In this session, we’ll examine the basic types of tension available to storytellers and some guiding principles for how to incorporate them.
April 9, 2025 at 7PM Eastern
A Primer on Character Interiority
Stories can vary in the extent to which they value the voice, the character, or the plot. But even in stories that aren’t character-driven, readers latch onto characters and the decisions they make. So it behooves writers to figure out how to give readers insight into character. In this session, we’ll examine how to convey what characters are thinking and feeling.
July 9, 2025 at 7PM Eastern
Turning Points: The Engine of Scenes
John Yorke says that every scene includes a turning point because that’s why scenes exist. Turning points can be a little elusive to spot, however. We’ll dig into identifying turning points and examine how they function within a scene so that we can understand why they are absolutely essential. If you have scenes that feel a little boring or slow, it may be that your turning points are to blame.
October 8, 2025 at 7PM Eastern
Backstory: To Be or Not to Be
Some seem to decry backstory as an anchor that drags on the present-time story; others say backstory is absolutely essential. We’ll explore the debate and then examine what methods you can use to incorporate backstory seamlessly. We’ll also discuss how much backstory to use and what purposes backstory really serves.
MICHAEL LA RONN has published many science fiction and fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He built a writing career publishing 10-12 books per year while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. His YouTube channel, Author Level Up, has attracted thousands of viewers as, every week, Michael publishes writing craft videos to help you write better, write faster, have fun, and be prolific. He’s written over 50 books and counting, and these videos are Michael documenting what he’s learned every step of the way. His channel is for you if you want to master your writing app, you want to maximize your productivity as a writer, you want to self-publish/traditionally publish better books, and/or you want to become a better writer overall.
Visit his fiction website at www.michaellaronn.com and his resources for writers at www.authorlevelup.com.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 7PM EasternQuick Wins for the WinDoes the chaos of marketing leave you overwhelmed? Do you struggle to balance writing, family, and the demanding "business" side of publishing?Managing your writing business should be about seizing those quick wins.In this engaging presentation, prolific author Michael La Ronn will discuss his biggest "quick win" lessons learned over a decade as a thriving author while working full-time and raising a family. Learn how his "quick win" mindset helped him grow a flailing business into a profitable publishing powerhouse.* Uncover the true essence of a "quick win"* Immerse yourself in a quick win mindset* Achieve quick wins without emptying your walletQuick wins are right at your fingertips – they're accessible, budget-friendly, and, most importantly, hiding in plain sight. After thisdynamic session, you'll have the vision to spot them effortlessly. It just might take your writing business to the next level.Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7PM EasternLeveling Up Your Author MindsetHave you ever wondered how authors continue their careers after long periods of time?The secret is mindset. With the right mindset, anything in the author life is possible. And the right mindset is not always about selling more books as quickly as possible.In this webinar, prolific author Michael La Ronn will share secrets he’s learned over the last 15 years as a self-published author to avoid burnout, flourish with his best life, and keep things focused. He did that while working full-time in the insurance industry, raising a family, and even attending law school classes in the event.You’ll learn:* The three most important areas of your life to focus on* Learn how to be yourself online and attract readers and friends* The #1 secret to having a long and fulfilling writing career* The surprising difference between failure and opportunity, and why it isn’t what you thinkLevel up your mindset and achieve new levels of your career that you didn’t think possible. Whether it be writing, business, or marketing, this webinar will give you critical tips to last the rest of your writing life.Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at 7PM EasternThe Pocket Guide to PantsingPantsers: do you want to ditch outlining forever but don't know how?Maybe you've tried to write by the seat of your pants, but you got lost in the weeds. Or, you just need some structure.Writing a novel without an outline is like solving a complex puzzle—daunting, but not impossible. Master this technique and you'll write stories that you never dreamed of--and readers will pay you for it.In this practical, no BS webinar, prolific Michael La Ronn will talk about the pantsing process he's followed to write over 20 novels without an outline.You'll discover:* A tried-and-true structure for writing your book without an outline* How to win the war against self-doubt* What to do when you get stuck, and exactly what to write next* How to edit your novel as you go and produce a clean first & final draftOnce you write your first novel without an outline, the next one will be much easier. All you need is practical advice. Click the buy button to take your writing skills to the next level.Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 7PM EasternThe Ins and Outs of Self-PublishingHave you finished your first book and are feeling overwhelmed by what it will take to get it into the hands of readers?If you don’t know where to start, you might waste time spinning your wheels or make critical mistakes that make your author journey harder than it needs to be. But if you follow the right steps, you can take control of your publishing journey—and make more money—by taking the indie route.In this comprehensive hands-on workshop, indie author Michael La Ronn will share the knowledge he’s gained from more than a decade of independently publishing his fiction and nonfiction books.This webinar will cover:* Best practices for working with editors and for formatting your book for ebook and print* Best practices for working with cover designers* Curiously effective marketing and promotion strategies* And more, including the ability to ask questions and get tailored advice for your own situationThe publishing process doesn’t have to be painful. Tune in for a hands-on experience and leave with the confidence and knowledge to publish your own work professionally and successfully.
To select either or both quarterly webinar series, please complete the fields below then click the SUBMIT button for payment by credit/debit card.
- For AWC members only- No refunds will be provided; if you can't attend any of the live webinars, you will still receive the recordings and any handouts provided by the speakers.
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