A Uniquely Formatted Online Course to Create a Compelling Opening
What to Expect:
- 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 prior to 6/30/26.
- On 7/3/26, the group meets on the internet to review and discuss feedback received.
$50 Registration Due by 6/15/26
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 be one of three editors on a well-researched weekly blog concerning economics, politics, environmental concerns, medicine, and science.
Cherrie moved back to Arizona in 2018 and 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 to provide occasional workshops and courses on writing and the publishing industry. She also edits a newsletter on Substack for fans of speculative fiction: Speculative Fiction Picks. Check out her video blog on craft for writers at Writing Tips.
Since 2008 she’s explored man’s relationships with his society using science fiction and alternate history. Two of her manuscripts took second place at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest and one of them was a finalist at the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Contest.
