Steven James is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of sixteen novels. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine. In addition to his writing, Steven is a popular conference speaker and presenter, and has appeared more than 2,000 times around the world since 1996, performing or teaching the art of storytelling and creative writing.
Best known for his psychological thrillers, he has received more than a dozen honors and awards for his books, including three Christy Awards for best suspense. His book The Queen was a finalist for an International Thriller Award.
His groundbreaking book on the craft of fiction, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, won a Storytelling World Award, recognizing it as one of the year’s best resources for storytellers, as did his follow-up book Troubleshooting Your Novel. He is the host of the podcast “The Story Blender,” where he interviews great storytellers from the world of cinema, oral performance, and writing about the craft of great storytelling.
When he’s not traveling or writing you’ll find him trail running near his home at the base of the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee. Find out more at www.stevenjames.net or connect on Twitter @readstevenjames.
We are honored to have Steven teach the following workshops during our Spring Ecuador Retreat:
Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules
When you focus on what lies at the heart of story—tension, desire, crisis, escalation, struggle, discovery—rather than plot templates and formulas, you’ll begin to break out of the box and write fiction that resonates with your readers. This workshop is filled with practical insights, dozens of ways to fix plot flaws, time-tested writing secrets and easy-to-implement ideas.
Pulling the Rug Out: How to Craft Twists Your Readers Will Never See Coming
A great twist will be unexpected, inevitable, an escalation of what preceded it, and a revelation that adds meaning to what has already occurred. Readers want to predict how a story will end, but they want to be wrong—yet still satisfied. Everyone tells you to include a good twist, yet no one tells you how. Until now. In this seminar, you’ll discover how to develop endings that leave your readers stunned, thrilled and panting for more.
Status: How to Create Three-Dimensional Characters
Multi-dimensionality for all characters (including antagonists and protagonists) depends on varying their status. Characterization is brought out by showing how a character acts in relation to other characters. Learn how to understand the dance of submission/dominance that every relationship has and how situational, positional and relational status define every character in your novel. This will be a hands-on seminar with practical ideas and activities you can use today.
Suspense Essentials: Secrets to Tapping Into Tension Whatever Genre You Write
Every story can be improved by increasing the suspense, tightening the tension and ratcheting up the action. This in-depth seminar will help you improve your story by pacing the promises that you make and connecting emotionally with your reader. We’ll explore the differences between suspense and conflict, and cover the four ingredients necessary for suspense in your story that will both surprise and satisfy the most discerning readers.
Troubleshooting Your Novel: Essential Techniques for Identifying and Solving Manuscript Problems
In this practical workshop packed full of specific, time-tested advice, you will explore how to pinpoint weak spots in your story—and solve them—examine how to adjust elements of story progression, develop riveting characters, master narrative techniques, and ensure reader engagement. You owe your book more than a polish and a proofread. This workshop will help take it to the next level.
