Shop Self-Paced Writing Courses for Busy Authors

Browse everything in one place, from freebies to signature programs and everything in between.
 

 

Start Here: Online Writing Courses and Resources

Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Most writers are working around jobs, families, and other responsibilities competing for their time. These courses and services are built for that reality. Browse the programs and courses below to find the right next step for your book.

writing and editing craft<br />

Signature Programs

Discover my signature programs for writers who are ready to take their craft and productivity to the next level.

Book Editing Blueprint helps you write and revise with a plan, so your draft’s in better shape and your editing budget goes further.

The Organized Author focuses on the practical side of writing, helping you develop efficient systems to manage your time, organize your projects, and balance writing with the demands of everyday life.

Both courses are packed with actionable advice and step-by-step guidance to help you on your writing journey.

writing and editing craft<br />

Writing Courses That Improve Craft & Cut Editing Costs

Strengthen your craft and self-edit with a plan. These self-paced writing courses give you simple steps and guidance so you can create a book you’re proud of.

Time management and mindset for writers

Time Management, Creativity, and Inspiration for Writers

Struggling to write with a busy life? Learn  systems to stay productive, motivated, and creative, even on your busiest days.

developmental editing services<br />

Developmental Editing Services for Authors

Ready for professional input? My 1:1 developmental editing services give authors detailed notes and editing support you can rely on.

Writing craft courses

Stacy's Novels

Click the covers to read reviews, explore blurbs, enjoy excerpts, watch book trailers, and discover retail links.

Signature Programs

A collection of devices, books, and worksheets arranged on a desk with a plant, lamp, and coffee. The centerpiece is a laptop displaying Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan to Making Your Novels Publishable.

Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan to Making Your Novels Publishable - ($497)

Struggling to figure out what’s wrong with your draft—or how to fix it?

If your manuscript feels rough and you’re unsure what to work on next, Book Editing Blueprint offers a framework to follow.

This self-paced writing course shows you how to draft and revise in a logical sequence, with each round building on the last.

Writers choose either the Drafting or Editing Track and move through 10 modules covering structure, pacing, character arcs, dialogue, line-level revision, and final polish.

You’ll apply each step to your manuscript using a guided workbook, a printable 26-page editing checklist, and a customizable editing tracker.

Get lifetime access to the complete Book Editing Blueprint system and use it on every draft you write.

START FIXING YOUR MANUSCRIPT.

A desktop with a computer, tablet, smartphone, coffee cup, and several printed worksheets and planners, all labeled The Organized Author. There are also digital products and a small plant on the wooden desk.

The Organized Author: Systems for Success ($247)

The hardest part of writing isn’t always the writing.

When drafts are scattered, your files are a mess, and everyday responsibilities keep interrupting your writing time, it’s hard to make steady progress—no matter how much you care about your work.

The Organized Author: Systems for Success is a self-paced course for busy authors who want a writing life that fits into real life. Inside, you’ll learn how to organize your projects, digital files, writing time, and marketing tasks so nothing important slips through the cracks.

With short lessons, demo videos, a workbook, and a library of templates and trackers, you’ll set up routines that help you sit down to write, follow through on promotion, keep projects moving, and reconnect with your creative energy.

Build systems that help you finish what you start—enroll in The Organized Author today.

ORGANIZE YOUR WRITING LIFE.

Writing and Editing Quick Wins

Rewrite the Fight course teaching character versus character and conflict in fiction techniques

Rewrite the Fight: Turn Bland Arguments into Unforgettable Character Conflict ($97)

(NEW!) It’s easy to push an argument too far. It’s just as easy to drain it of tension.

Rewrite the Fight shows you how to write argument scenes that feel sharp, believable, and charged with consequence.

This course breaks down how conflict works across different relationships, including family blowups, romantic standoffs, workplace power struggles, and friendships under strain.

You’ll learn what triggers these fights, how personality influences each reaction, and what each character risks losing. Then you’ll focus on craft, strengthening argument and physical fight scenes through dialogue, body language, internal thought, pacing, and word choice.

You’ll also study eight student scenes with detailed editorial feedback and line edits.

Make your fight scenes hit where it counts.

GET THE CONFLICT FRAMEWORK.

A promotional graphic for Book Blurbs Made Simple features a computer, tablets displaying the book cover and related resources, a potted plant, and a cup of coffee on a beige background with the book title in bold at the top.

Book Blurbs Made Simple: How to Write Back Cover Copy That Stands Out and Hooks Readers ($9)

Finally finish your blurb.

Your book blurb is often the first thing readers see—and one of the hardest pieces of writing to nail down. Condensing an entire book into a few paragraphs often feels harder than writing the book itself.

Book Blurbs Made Simple walks you through writing a book description step by step. You’ll learn what to highlight, what to cut, and how to present your story in a way that captures reader interest.

The course works for both fiction and nonfiction, whether you’re self-publishing or querying agents.

With brief video lessons, printable roadmaps, examples, and a guided workbook, you’ll have a process you can use again and again.

Enroll for $9 and get your blurb written.

WRITE YOUR BOOK BLURB FOR $9.

A digital course bundle displayed on a desk with a laptop, tablet, phone, notepad, documents, headphones, a potted plant, and a coffee cup, all under the title INSIDE VOICES on a blue wooden background.

Inside Voices: Why Characters Should Talk to Themselves and How to Do It Right ($47)

Your characters have thoughts, but are you showing them in the right way?

Inside Voices teaches you how to write internal dialogue that feels natural, develops your narrator, and fits the flow of the scene.

You’ll learn how to balance thoughts with action, choose between direct and indirect styles, and fix common problems that jolt readers out of the moment.

Includes six short video lessons, downloadable slides, cheat sheets, a written Q&A, and two bonus journals to gain more insight into your characters.

Give your characters an inner voice that feels real—and worth reading.

WRITE BETTER INTERNAL DIALOGUE. 

A graphic showing a laptop, desktop, tablet, and phone with writing-related screens, surrounded by a notebook, pens, and a coffee cup. Text reads “Perfect Your Plot: Common Story Development Mistakes And How to Overcome Them.”.

Perfect Your Plot: Common Story Development Mistakes and How to Overcome Them ($47)

Stop patching holes. Fix the framework first.

If your story feels shaky, or you’re worried your scenes aren’t doing their job, this quick, practical resource will help you repair what’s not working. Perfect Your Plot shows you how to spot and solve the story-level issues most writers miss before you spend hundreds on edits or hit the publish button.

You’ll get short, focused lessons and examples pulled straight from real editorial letters so you can see what weak structure looks like and how to make it stronger. A guided worksheet and printable cheat sheet will help you apply what you’ve learned to your own draft, right away.

Start Perfect Your Plot today, and catch the cracks in the foundation before your readers do.

FIND THE WEAK SPOTS IN YOUR STORY.

A collage shows digital devices displaying writing resources, including First Pages Quick Fix Clinic, feedback messages, and writing tips, with a coffee cup and a potted plant in the background.

First Pages Quick Fix Clinic: Revising for Powerful Opening Pages ($47)

Why first pages fail—and how to fix them.

Your opening pages do more than introduce a story. They signal to readers, agents, and publishers whether your book is worth their time.

If you’ve revised your first chapter again and again and it still feels off, First Pages Quick Fix Clinic helps you see what’s not working.

This self-paced course breaks down what professionals look for in strong opening pages, using nine sets of real first pages annotated with in-line commentary and revision notes.

You’ll learn to spot common opening problems and apply the same techniques to your own pages.

Enroll in the First Pages Quick Fix Clinic and see what your opening pages are missing.

FIX YOUR OPENING PAGES.

A collection of digital writing resources titled Energize Your Writing Toolkit displayed on screens, surrounded by plants, a lamp, and a glass of iced coffee. The toolkit includes cheat sheets and guides about character emotions.

Energize Your Writing Toolkit: Cheat Sheets for Character Emotions ($67)

Keep your scenes engaging with an indispensable emotion reference.

The Energize Your Writing Toolkit gives you over 4,000 ready-to-use emotional cues—organized into printable cheat sheets across 21 categories—so you can write fresher, more believable reactions without slowing down your process.

You’ll also get a workbook to spot your overused habits, a guide for weaving body language into scenes, and bonus tools to add variety and depth. Print it, store it, and pull it out whenever a scene falls flat or you’re stuck mid-sentence.

Grab your copy today and make your next scene more powerful, expressive, and true to your characters.

WRITE STRONGER CHARACTER EMOTIONS.

The Looks and Gazes Quickstart Guide (Free)

Feel like your characters are always looking, glancing, or gazing?

It’s one of the most common habits in fiction, and it can make your scenes feel flat or repetitive. The Looks and Gazes Quickstart Guide is a free cheat sheet with 100+ fresh ways to upgrade your characters’ expressions and reactions. Drawn straight from The Energize Your Writing Toolkit, it’s a quick win you can use right away. 

Whether you’re writing a new scene or revising a draft, this guide helps you spot overused patterns and fix them fast. One small fix. One big difference.

GET IT FOR FREE HERE.

Line Editing Made Simple: 5 Days to More Polished Pages (Free)

Does the thought of editing your book seem overwhelming? If your manuscript could use trimming and polishing, sign up for this free mini course that features bite-sized concepts and assignments to help you kick-start your line editing.

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE. 

Take Control of Your Edits Masterclass (Free)

You’re writing a book, but aren’t sure if you’re heading in the right direction. Should you hire an editor? Keep tweaking? Scrap pages you’ve spent weeks on?

In this free training, you’ll learn the three most common mistakes that drain writers’ time, money, and motivation. Whether you’re writing your first draft or engrossed in edits, this 20-minute class will help you figure out what your manuscript really needs—and what it doesn’t.

REGISTER FOR FREE.

Tips for Naming Characters Guide (Free)

Unfortunately, picking the perfect name isn’t as easy as it looks⁠—especially when you have several characters and need to make each name distinct. Let me help you simplify the process.

Grab the Tips for Naming Characters Guide for advice and resources to find the perfect names for your characters. Make naming easier beginning today!

GET IT FREE HERE.

Shortcuts for Writers: Editing Made Simple Facebook Group (Free)

Join my Facebook group to stay in the loop about resources and events and become part of a positive community that has drawn more than 2,600 writers of all levels from around the world.

JOIN HERE AND BE SURE TO ANSWER SCREENING QUESTIONS.

Shortcuts for Writers Blog Posts & Guest Guidelines (Free)

Catch up on the latest blog posts. You’ll find articles on the craft of writing; the popular ‘Behind the Rewrite’ guest posts that explain why and how authors made certain editing decisions; productivity and time management tips; podcast interviews; and much more.

READ THE BLOG HERE. 

READ GUEST BLOG GUIDELINES HERE. 

Writer’s Focus and Flow Quick Wins

Writer's Biz crew main

The Writer’s Biz Crew—Your Plug-and-Play Squad of Smart Bots for Running Your Author Business ($147)

(NEW!) The team your author business didn’t know it needed until now.

Publishing a book means more than writing it, but most authors are left to manage the business side on their own.

The Writer’s Biz Crew combines a practical ChatGPT course with AI brainstorming partners built for authors.

Together, they guide you through planning your next 90 days, outlining a realistic launch, drafting reader emails, brainstorming social content, crafting professional pitches, building a street team, and more.

Get step-by-step support with the chores sitting on your to-do list, so you can protect your time and energy for writing.

GET A JUMP ON YOUR BOOK MARKETING.

A digital workspace kit is displayed on three laptops and a desktop with teal and purple screens, surrounded by a plant, flowers, and a glass of iced coffee. Text reads Writers Digital Desktop: Refresh and Organize Kit.

The Writer's Digital Desktop Refresh and Organize Kit ($9)

Stop fighting with your files and get back to writing.

If your computer desktop feels cluttered and distracting, getting started can take longer than it should. When files are hard to locate and icons pile up, it’s easy to fall behind before you’ve written a single word.

The Writer’s Digital Desktop Refresh and Organize Kit offers a practical way to clean up your digital workspace. In under an hour, you’ll organize writing projects, marketing materials, and admin files into simple, labeled sections, so you can sit down at your computer and start working instead of hunting things down.

Clear the clutter and simplify your digital workspace.

CLEAR YOUR DESKTOP CLUTTER FOR $9. 

A digital mockup shows The Writer’s Muse Journal on a laptop, tablet, and phone, surrounded by flowers, pens, a notebook, and a coffee cup. Screens display journal pages, oracle cards, and content lists for writers.

The Writer's Muse Journal: Oracle Card Spreads for Creative Inspiration ($9)

Sometimes your story needs a nudge, not another outline.

The Writer’s Muse Journal is a downloadable brainstorming companion for writers who feel stuck, uninspired, or too close to their work to see new possibilities.

This journal gives you additional spreads to use alongside the Oracle Cards for Writers framework.

Card spreads like The Antagonist Unmasked, Relationship Puzzle Pieces, Fork in the Road, Sensational Settings, Creative Juices Jumpstart, and From Flaws to Fortitude invite you to explore character motivation, plot turns, themes, and story choices—often leading to insights you wouldn’t have considered on your own.

Grab The Writer’s Muse Journal and see where your story wants to go next.

JUMPSTART YOUR STORY IDEAS FOR $9. 

A computer screen displays “Vision Board Toolkit for Writers” with worksheets, a notebook, sticky notes, pens, a phone, scissors, and a ruler arranged around it on a blue and white background.

Vision Board Toolkit for Writers: Empower Your Future ($37)

Stay connected to your writing goals through drafts, deadlines, and distractions.

The Vision Board Toolkit for Writers guides you step by step through creating a physical or digital vision board that helps you stay focused on what you’re working toward.

Vision boards aren’t just decorative. In a 2016 TD Bank survey, three-quarters of small business owners who used one said their business ended up where they envisioned it, and 82% reported achieving more than half their goals.

Inside the toolkit, you’ll find short lessons plus affirmation cards, inspirational quotes, genre-specific dream reviews, images, fill-in-the-blank graphics, and customizable templates, all designed specifically for writers.

Create your vision board and keep your goals front and center.

CREATE YOUR VISION BOARD FOR $37. 

A display of digital devices showing Oracle Cards for Writers content, surrounded by flowers, a lit candle, a notebook with a pen, and oracle cards, all arranged on a blue and white background.

Oracle Cards for Writers: Unlock Your Story Magic and Overcome Blocks to Success ($47)

When a story problem won’t budge, try a different way of looking at it.

Oracle Cards for Writers is a self-paced course that teaches writers how to use card-based spreads as a structured tool for exploring story questions.

Across nine illustrated lessons, you’ll work with imagery and symbolism to examine character motivation, emotional turning points, and plot direction.

The cards act as a neutral lens, helping you step back from the draft and consider new possibilities. Each lesson shows how to apply visual cues to assess scene options, weigh character decisions, and test alternate paths your story could take.

Enroll for $47 and add a thoughtful new perspective to your writing process.

BREAK THROUGH YOUR STORY BLOCKS.

NLP for fiction writers

NLP for Fiction Writers: Enhance Your Skills and Creative Flow ($49)

In this hands-on workshop taught by Master NLP Practitioner Beth Barany and hosted on Stacy’s Thrivecart platform, you’ll explore the tool of neurolinguistic programming to help you boost your writing productivity, clarify your creative goals, overcome hurdles, and engage curiosity to refine your craft and improve your creative process.

BOOST YOUR WRITING FOCUS.

Awakening the Creative Muse: A Writer's Guide to Intuition (Free)

You don’t need to push harder. You need to reconnect.

If your intuition feels buried under deadlines and distractions, this free guide will help you find your way back. Awakening the Creative Muse shares 8 practical tips to clear the mental clutter and reconnect with the part of you that already knows what to write. Whether you’re stuck in revisions or craving more joy in your process, this guide will help you slow down, tune in, and tap into the creative insight that’s been there all along.  

Download your free copy and start writing from a place of flow—not force.

SIGN UP HERE.

My Developmental and Line Editing Services

Writing career development<br />

Hire Me as Your Book Editor

I’ve published 10 of my own books, edited hundreds of manuscripts for my clients, and have had thousands of students go through my online courses. I love to read and am passionate about helping authors tell their stories. I’ve worked with writers of all levels, from beginner to USA Today bestselling.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the editing process, rates, what to expect, and what my clients are saying.

Fiction Books

Click the covers to read reviews, explore blurbs, enjoy excerpts, watch book trailers, and discover retailers.
Storybook Valley series
twenty-five years ago today
SInk or Swim book editing
faceoff book edit
hockey novel
Dark before dawn developmental editing
Flag Keeper book editing

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which writing course should I start with?

A. Start with what feels most useful for you right now. If you want a complete, step-by-step system for drafting and revising your manuscript, Book Editing Blueprint is a great place to begin.

If you’d rather focus on one specific area, or want a smaller starting point, you can choose a targeted course like Perfect Your Plot, First Pages Quick Fix Clinic, Inside Voices, the Energize Your Writing Toolkit, Rewrite the Fight, or Book Blurbs Made Simple. You can always build from there over time.

Q. What if I’m not sure what my biggest writing problem is?

A. That’s completely normal. If your draft feels messy or overwhelming, Book Editing Blueprint can help you bring structure to the writing and revision process.

If you’re not ready for a full system, starting with a smaller course can help you identify what needs the most attention while making progress right away. Two of the biggest problems in fiction manuscripts are weak body language and internal dialogue, so the Energize Your Writing Toolkit and Inside Voices are great starting points. By improving one element at a time, you’ll start to see what’s working in your draft and what to focus on next.

Q. Do I need to finish my draft before taking a course?

A. No. You can start at any stage. These courses are helpful whether you’re drafting or revising.

Q. What’s the difference between the signature programs and the smaller courses?

A. The signature programs, Book Editing Blueprint and The Organized Author, provide complete systems to support your writing process. Book Editing Blueprint focuses on drafting and revising your manuscript step by step, while The Organized Author helps you manage your time, projects, and writing workflow so you can stay consistent and make progress.

The smaller courses focus on specific challenges—like plot, body language, conflict, internal dialogue, opening pages, or blurbs—so you can improve one area at a time. You can take them on their own or combine them with a larger program.

Q. Can I start with a smaller course instead of a signature program?

A. Absolutely. Many writers begin with a smaller course to solve a specific problem or to get a feel for my teaching style. You can always add more courses later if you decide you want a more comprehensive system.

Q. How can I be more productive and consistent with my writing?

A. Simple systems make it easier to stay consistent. The Organized Author helps you manage your time, projects, and routines so writing fits into your life.

If your computer desktop feels cluttered or distracting, The Writer’s Digital Desktop Refresh and Organize Kit can help you reset quickly and get back to writing.

Q. How do I handle the business side of being an author?

A. Writing is only part of the process. The Writer’s Biz Crew helps you plan, organize, and follow through on the business side of authorship, like book launches, street teams, newsletters, social media posts, outreach, and goal-setting, so you can keep moving forward without feeling overwhelmed.

Q. What if I feel stuck or need help coming up with new ideas?

A.If you’re feeling stuck, a different approach can help you see your story more clearly. Oracle Cards for Writers offers a creative way to explore ideas and uncover new possibilities, while the Vision Board Toolkit for Writers helps you stay connected to your goals and inspired as you write.

My students and clients get results!

To read testimonials, visit my Results page.  

Visit the Press page to see where I’ve been featured.

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