New Class: Comics Storytelling Mastery
Transform your script writing skills with my exclusive live webinar coming March 27
I started college as a Journalism major but quickly switched to English (remember kids, a Creative Writing degree with a Philosophy minor is where the real money is).
For a while, I tested the waters on becoming a teacher by volunteering in classrooms, helping kids learn to read and assisting with writing projects. But I decided teaching wasn’t for me, and over the next 30 years, in one form or another, I’ve been a professional writer or editor.
During that time, I’ve been asked the same thing over and over: “Have you considered teaching?”
Not long ago, I was talking about it with Clay Adams (a damn good writer, and if you’re looking for a letterer for your comic, he does that very well, too). He suggested I consider it, but I hemmed and hawed, saying everyone had a course to sell and I didn’t want to be a course creator.
The funny part about it is that I’ve coached novelists and comic writers 1-on-1 for years. I’ve led a handful of in-person writing classes. I’ve taught several online writing workshops, too. And honestly, I’ve enjoyed all of the teaching I’ve done. But still, I pushed teaching to the back burner, thinking, yeah, maybe someday...
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I just finished a virtual comics writing class with literary agent Janna Morishima over at Kids Comics Unite (if you make comics for kids, be sure to sign up).
Not for the first time, I was reminded of a few things:
I know a lot about crafting a strong story.
I’m good at making the complex easy to understand.
I could talk about storytelling all day.
I should listen to Clay’s advice more often (don’t tell him I said that).
For the last year, I’ve been writing The Fiction Coach, trying to help as many writers as I can to improve their craft, mindsets, and routines.
But to be honest, it’s really slow.
I want to help more writers, and I want to help them faster.
And now, after all these years, I’m finally accepting that, yeah, teaching is something I want to do, so I’m hosting my own virtual class…
Introducing Comics Storytelling Mastery
As a professional fiction editor, I've edited hundreds of novels and thousands of pages of comic book scripts. I work with first-time writers and those who've been publishing for years.
During that time, I've noticed that the same mistakes ruin even the strongest story ideas.
Yes, comics are a visual medium, but they all start with the story. And there are many ways to lose yourself as you move from idea to printed comic.
Let me ask a few questions...
Is your hook flawless, but publishers aren't interested?
Have you self-published your comics, but they aren't generating buzz with readers?
Do you receive positive responses about your story ideas but, after finishing a script, you hear feedback like, "it's not working" or "there's something missing"?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, I'm confident you're dealing with the same problems I encounter in the scripts I review. (I even see these mistakes in many of the self-published comics I read.)
I want to help you improve your storytelling skills, so I'm inviting you to a live event where we'll dive into the most common mistakes I see from comic writers.
The topics I cover aren't just the most common, they're also the most detrimental mistakes... errors that are sapping your comic's strength. These are the same hiccups publishers are looking to avoid, and although they might not know it, you’re readers are too.
I'll not only show you how these mistakes undermine your story, but I'll also provide practical strategies on how to overcome them.
Ready for a storytelling breakthrough? Read more about the webinar and sign up today. Let's transform your writing into a comic that your readers won't forget!
When Is It? How Much Does It Cost?
When: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 8:00–9:30 p.m. Eastern / 7:00 p.m. Pacific
Fee: $35
What You'll Learn
In this 90-minute live webinar, we’ll explore how to...
Start your comic at precisely the right moment.
Make relatable characters whose decisions and actions impact the story and resonate with readers.
Elevate the conflict and resolution for maximum impact.
Pace your story so it builds tension until the epic finale.
Who Is This Class For?
New and seasoned comic writers.
Creative teams who aren’t finding interest from publishers.
Creators who have self-published comics, but their stories are generating buzz.
Anyone who has received positive responses about their story ideas but, after finishing their script, heard feedback similar to "it's not working" or "something is missing."
A Note to Novelists
I’m currently developing a separate class for novelists. I’ve found similar mistakes in the novels and novellas I read, but there are enough differences that I thought they warranted their own session.
A Note to Kids Comics Unite Writers
If you sat in on my session for Kids Comics Unite, the information I share here is very similar. I’ll share different insights with new details and examples, but it’s probably not worth double-dipping.
Glad to see you doing this! And you should listen to my advice more often ;)