THE CLASS: There are two elements that nearly all successful, award-winning books have: Strong plots and beautiful writing. There are dozens of plotting classes to help you with the former, but what if you struggle more with the latter? In this class, we'll break down what elevates prose from everyday to amazing, covering techniques to build stronger sentences and create the kind of immersive, lyrical wordsmithing that draws readers in deep and doesn't let them go—WITHOUT our work drifting into the realm of "purple prose."

WHAT YOU GET: In this 90-minute class, we’ll explore the difference between lyrical, evocative writing and the dreaded “purple prose.” There will also be a workshop portion at the end where attendees can get personalized feedback from me on a passage of their writing, with tips on how to up the beauty of their prose! If you’re great at plots but struggle with sentence-level writing, or worry that your love of adjectives may tip you over into purple prose territory, this class is for you.

I will also share the class recording with everyone who has purchased a ticket, so even if you are unable to attend live, you can watch the class later! (However, only live attendees will be able to workshop their writing as part of the class.)

WHO AM I AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?: I am Cindy Baldwin, middle grade author and long-time writing teacher and book coach. I’ve taught lots of popular classes at major conferences like SCBWI, Storymakers, WriteOnCon, and AWP. I have been a mentor for #PitchWars and #WeNeedDiverseBooks, and authors I have mentored have gone on to sign with agents, land book deals with major publishers, and win major writing awards. I’ve published four of my own books with HarperCollins children’s books; all have been critically acclaimed and several have won or been finalists for awards. As a teacher, I am particularly known for breaking down complicated topics into easy, doable pieces. I’ve been wanting to offer online classes for several years so that I had the freedom to deliver a more personalized experience than is possible in a conference setting. I hope you’ll join me!

THE PRICING: After some pondering, I’m experimenting with pricing this class pay-what-you-can. There are several ticket price options; feel free to select the one that fits your budget best! 

The $0 “Scholarship” tickets are intended specifically for writers from marginalized communities: If you’re BIPOC, queer, or disabled, that’s you. 

The “Discount” tickets are for writers interested in taking the class, for whom $40 would be prohibitively expensive.

The $40 “Suggested donation” tickets are based on how I priced my previous class—still definitely a steal for a 90-minute workshop!

The “Extra generous” tickets are for writers who believe in the work I’m doing and have the financial means to support my work a little more.