ONLINE CLASS
Turning Premise Into Plot
5 plotting solutions that work for all genres and at all points in the writing process
INSTRUCTOR
Courtney Maum
DATE & TIME
Live on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 12 p.m. EDT (or wait for the recording)
IDEAL FOR
Novelists and memoirists struggling with plot
ACCESSIBILITY
Closed captions by Zoom; transcript provided with recording
✪ This class is part of the May Masters of Fiction promotion. Learn more.
There are a lot of dirty words in writing, and “plot” is one of them. For years, novelist and memoirist Courtney Maum considered plot something sophomoric and base that would cheapen her writing, until she got an agent who wanted to sell her novel instead of email it around.
Enter a full-scale revision that saw Courtney retrofitting a plot onto a manuscript that had originally been a comedy of ideas. Ever since the massive revision that won her a six-figure debut book deal with a Big Five publisher, Courtney has begrudgingly decided that books do need a plot: all books, not just fiction. She’s come up with five exercises to instantly diagnose whether her book idea has a plot or just a premise, and in this 90-minute class, you’ll get to learn them, too.
Because Courtney writes across genres, this class will teach writers of both memoir and fiction the following solutions:
- How book titles set a project up to soar—or fail
- A drawing exercise to help you visualize your book as a whole on a single page
- Two Mad-Lib formulas to help you discern whether you have a selling plot or not
- The Hollywood make-or-break exercise that Courtney personally failed
Who should take this class
- Anyone working on a novel or memoir who is serious about improving both their craft and chances at a traditional publishing deal
- Writers who have heard from agents, editors, or colleagues that their narrative lacks momentum, that there isn’t a clear path to market, or that they wanted to care about the characters but didn’t
- Writers at any stage of the writing process who are open to imagining their story a tad differently than they originally envisioned it, or writers who already have a draft they are willing to revise
- Writers open to receiving feedback on the spot: the class will lead students through group exercises and there will be opportunities for participants to share.
This class is not suited for
- Poets
- Children’s picture book writers
- Writers of brief essays, articles, or stories
- Writers who have limited interest in improving their writing or otherwise aren’t open to revision
What you’ll receive
Video recording
Audio recording download
Transcript download
Slides in PDF form
How do I attend the live class?
This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). 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: Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT / 9:00 a.m. Pacific
- Fee: $25 through April 29, 2026 / $35 if you register after April 29, 2026
The webinar is broadcast 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, which is about 80%+ accurate. We use ElevenLabs to generate a lightly edited transcript, provided with the recording.
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.
About the instructor
Using willpower instead of an MFA and fueled by an early love of reading and writing, Courtney Maum got her first agent in her early twenties, but didn’t ink a book deal until ten years and two agents after that. Her debut novel I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You was a massive smash, selling nearly 100,000 copies and garnering praise both critical and commercial. Since then, nearly all her books have been New York Times and Amazon editors’ choices, translated into multiple languages, taught in writing classrooms, and trained upon—without Courtney’s permission—by AI companies worldwide.
In addition to her fiction, Courtney is beloved for the publishing guide she wrote for authors in 2020, Before and After the Book Deal, which is also the name of her bestselling Substack. She has adapted her own work for the screen, created a story for Audible, narrated two of her own audiobooks and generally done everything and anything to help her work succeed, including acknowledging that her narratives need plot. In 2023, Courtney founded a writing workshop in New Mexico called Turning Points that reverses the traditional workshop process to teach all writers a more democratic and joyful kind of writing.
Testimonials
“Courtney’s directness is matched with kindness, her expertise is vast. It feels rare to find someone who’s both an artist and so completely efficient.”
“Our one-hour phone call was literally more helpful than an entire MFA in how to construct a book.”
“Courtney is a genius. She has X-ray vision when it comes to book manuscripts and their structure.”
Professor and author Elizabeth Dillon
Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy
We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—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 disconnected from the live event.