Starting 6/3/26, participants have 13 days to watch 4 instructional videos and do exercises via a private webpage. Participants spruce up or create a dynamic opening for a book, memoir, or short story of up to 300 words.
Two Ask Me Anything video calls will take place during that time to clear up any confusion about the videos or the exercises and to help you make your opening as compelling as possible. And I do mean “Anything”–even questions about writing that fall outside the course are welcome.
By 6/15/26, opening pages are submitted and distributed anonymously to the other participants via a link.
Participants review other writers’ openings and answer three questions by 6/29/26 (14 days):
Does it make you want to turn the page and keep reading?
What hooked you?
What would have been an even stronger hook?
A summary of participant feedback will be emailed to each writer before 6/30/26.
On 7/2/26, the group meets to review and discuss feedback received.
$50 Registration Due by 6/14/26
Questions:
C@CAlexSmith.com
C. Alex Smith started her writing career as a political blogger on the Daily Kos in 2008. She was invited to become one of three editors for a well-researched weekly blog about economics, politics, the environment, medicine, and science.
She moved on in 2014 to hosting Spec Fix Pix, a podcast for fans of Sci Fi, Fantasy, and Horror.
After moving back to Arizona in 2018, she became a co-founder of Flagstaff Writers Connection. She continues to work for FWC to maintain their internet presence, host the local Critique Circle, and provide occasional workshops and courses on writing and the publishing industry. She also edits two newsletters: Speculative Fiction Picks & Writing Tips.
Since 2008, she has been writing science fiction and alternate history. She’s won awards at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest and the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Contest.
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