First Page Workshop in June

 

Hook Your Reader 

on 

the First Page

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.

Deep Editing #3 Opens Jan 15th

 

Happy New Year! 

To celebrate the coming of 2024 I have a gift for you. I’m so excited about this third Deep Editing webinar. I’ve put a lot of work and research into this one.

It contains three videos: One on using motifs or “series” to enhance your story elements like setting or characters. Another video on how many iterations and the timing of your iterations. And one on less often seen plot structures that can still be useful for some stories. These videos include four exercises to help you solidify the information in your memory.

Then I take you on an optional four-video deep dive into Rowling’s use of eleven story structures, layered one on top of the other, that created the amazing world of Hogwarts and the depth of texture in her Harry Potter series. One of the videos is about her now famous Ring Writing structure. Another will introduce you to her incredible take on Literary Alchemy.

As usual, I have included handouts with the slides and script so you can read along or take notes. Includes exercises to help you get acquainted with other local writers and improve your writing skills. I have scheduled three Ask Me Anything Sessions. And you can contact me any time for more help with these concepts.

The best part? The course is free!

The course starts 1/15/24 but you can register now.  

Questions: 

C@CAlexSmith.com

(928)601-5494

C. Alex Smith started her writing career as a political blogger in 2008. She was invited to be one of three editors of a well-researched weekly blog concerning economics, politics, environmental concerns, medicine, and science. She was instrumental in getting the blog reposted on several political news sites and maintained the blog's social media presence. 

She moved on in 2014 and became the host of 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 its internet presence, host the local Critique Circle, and provide occasional workshops and courses on writing and the publishing industry.

Since 2008 she has been writing science fiction and alternate history. She has seven complete manuscripts. Two of her manuscripts took second place at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest. One of the manuscripts is currently a finalist in the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Contest.

Compelling Openings Course

Hook Your Reader 

on 

the First Page

A Uniquely Formatted Online Course to Create a Compelling Opening 

What to Expect:

• Starting 9/14, participants have 12 days to watch 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. 
• By 9/25, opening pages are submitted to C@CAlexSmith.com who will anonymously distribute them to participants via a link.
• By 10/4, participants review other writers’ openings and answer three questions: 
• Does it make you want to turn the page and keep reading? 
• What hooked you? 
• What would have been an even stronger hook? 
• Instructor emails summary of participant feedback to each writer prior to 10/9. 
• On 10/9, group meets on Zoom from 1-3 p.m. to review and discuss feedback received.

FREE!

Registration Due by 9/14

Limited to 15 participants

Register Here 

Questions: 

C@CAlexSmith.com

(928)779-6368

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.  There, she cultivated far left celebrities to guest post on the blog including Robin Upton (host of  Unwelcome Guests), Gar Alperovitz (author of Beyond Capitalism), Roger Rothenberger (author of Beyond Plutocracy), and Prof. Richard D. Wolff (Economic Update, The New School in NY). She was also instrumental in getting the blog reposted on several political news sites and maintained the blogs social media presence. 

She moved on in 2014 to being the host of 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 Publishing Club, and to provide occasional workshops and courses on writing and the publishing industry.

Since 2008 she has been writing science fiction and alternate history. She has five complete manuscripts and three partial manuscripts. Two of her manuscripts took second place at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest.