Screenplay or Novel? Understanding Your Idea’s Potential

May 14

Writers have ideas all the time. But how do we figure out if the idea in our head would work better as a screenplay or a novel? Why does that even matter in today’s world of books and films becoming almost interchangeable?

It turns out it matters a lot. Not having that internal conversation with yourself, or an external conversation with friends or industry people could mean you are about to waste a lot of valuable time creating something that doesn’t quite fit where you hope it will.

Finish Your Book: From the Opening to the Ending

May 21

Every new idea arrives with a spark. We’re energized, eager, ready to begin. That momentum carries us forward for a few weeks. But, somewhere along the way, enthusiasm fades. Whether it’s the early draft, the messy middle, or even late-stage revisions, most writers hit a point where the work feels harder than it should—and finishing begins to feel out of reach.

In this dynamic live webinar, Polly Campbell shares proven strategies to help you choose the right idea, sustain your energy, and build a writing practice that carries you from draft to completed project—no matter what gets in the way.

Perfecting Submission Materials Boot Camp

May 26 - 29

Agents get literally thousands of submissions a year, including query letters, sample pages, and synopses. Of those thousands, they request a full manuscript from few and offer representation to even fewer.

In this boot camp from Fuse Literary Agency, attendees will learn how to put together a short yet effective query letter and a one- to two-page book synopsis (fiction). They’ll also learn some best practices for submitting their query, pages, and synopsis to agents.

Publishing 101

May 14 - July 2

Brand new to WDU!

This course will walk prospective authors through every step of the publishing process: from procuring an agent to peeling the curtain back on the in-house decision-making processes to how books are priced, printed, and sold to bookstores.

Copyediting Practice for The Chicago Manual of Style

May 14 - June 18

This is a five-week course for those who have learned the basic rules of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and would like to put them into practice and receive feedback on their work.

Writing the Mystery Novel

May 14 - June 25

Do you love reading a good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? In this course, you'll have the choice of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch or working with a story you already have in progress.

Write Great Dialogue

May 14 - July 25

Dialogue can be one of the most interesting parts of a book to read, but only if it is done right. Sharpen your writing skills and challenge yourself to craft engaging, yet believable dialogue that will keep your readers interested.

Write Your Drama Pilot in Six Weeks

May 14 - June 25

Learn the tools professional screenwriters use to finish high-quality scripts under deadlines. By the end of this course, you will have completed and received professional feedback on a script for your drama pilot.

Building New Worlds: Improving Your Fantasy Craft

May 21 - July 2

Brand new to WDU!

Writing a fantasy novel is about making a world of magic and fictitious lands feel real, while at the same time adhering to the often rigid standards of publication. Feeling overwhelmed? Curious to know more? Eager to learn? Then this course is for you. Let’s make your world a reality.