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✪ This class is part of the May Masters of Fiction promotion. Learn more.

All writers face the dilemma of deciding how much they should plan out a story before they begin writing it. The traditional advice is to plan your work to some degree—that is, to outline the story. In the marketplace there are countless books and courses trumpeting the advantages of doing so and offering detailed formulas and templates for you to follow to write your story. Paint by numbers. Plug and play. But following formulas naturally results in formulaic stories. Is that really what you want?

Writers are often warned that if they don’t follow an outline, they’ll “write themselves into a corner.” But what if writing yourself into a corner was actually an asset? What if it’s an essential aspect of the creative process?

Staying responsive to your story’s development as you uncover it is vital. In this seminar, you’ll learn what to focus on instead of outlining in order to shape powerful, poignant, and resonant stories.

Taught by national bestselling author and veteran fiction instructor Steven James, this class will help you rethink the writing process. For the last two decades, Steven has been coaching authors on how to write without an outline. His groundbreaking book Story Trumps Structure has become a staple for organic writers.

This class will teach you the specific advantages of organic writing and how to overcome the pitfalls of outlining, how to trust the fluidity of the writing process, and what matters more than plot—and how to tap into it in every scene.

Discarding your outline and uncovering your story scene by scene might be the best thing you can do for your fiction. This class will teach you how.

What you’ll learn

• 4 questions you can ask to solve any “plot problem” you might ever have (Yes. Any problem, ever.)
• Why fear will drive you back to an outline and how to avoid letting that happen
• How (and why) to follow rabbit trails
• How organic writing differs from “writing by the seat of your pants” and how to tap into its benefits, whether you typically outline or not
• 3 vital underlying narrative forces that work together to drive every scene forward
• How to write a scene even when you don’t know where it will lead or what will happen within it
• Why pursuit is more important than plot—and how that insight can shape every scene in your manuscript
• How the three-act paradigm can undermine your story and shackle your characters—and what to focus on instead in order to shape a powerful story

Supplemental materials from the instructor

• A handout containing Seven Foundational Principles of Organic Writing

Who should take this class

This course is designed for all fiction writers, especially those who’ve run into a dead end in their work in progress. In addition:

• Writers who’ve been told to outline or “plot out” their books
• Writers who’ve been warned about “writing themselves into a corner” (and those who’ve actually done so)
• Novelists and short story writers hoping to save time and write more resonant stories
• Writers who are facing plot problems and don’t know how to proceed
• “Seat of the pants” writers who would like specific guidance on how to write without an outline

This class is NOT for:

• Memoirists
• Essayists
• Poets
• Children’s book writers & illustrators

What you’ll receive

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology. You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
• Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
• Fee: $25 through May 17, 2026 / $35 if you register after May 17, 2026

The webinar is broadcasted via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate.

Refund policy

If you attend the live class and/or watch the recording, and it does not meet your expectations, contact us for a full refund, no questions asked.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class (90 minutes). The instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentations in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We offer a lightly edited transcript of each webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee or presenter—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be asked to leave the live event and will not be refunded.