Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where will I take this course?  From the comfort of your own home.  Or anywhere you can access (and print) the online materials.  This digital age that we live in makes online learning a possibility.

2. When can I take this course?  You can access the course materials as soon as you purchase it.  The one-time fee gives you lifetime access to the course (and subsequent updates to it for as long as the course remains online).

3. Who should take this course?  You should take this course if you are interested in learning the craft of writing commercial fiction.  What do I mean by “commercial fiction”?  Simply put, commercial fiction is good storytelling.  That is all.

4. How do I know if this course right for me?  Read my writing.  If you like what I write and how I write, then this course is a good fit for you.  You should take this course if you want to read a good book.  In order to understand what makes for good fiction, you will need to read good fiction.

5. Do I have to enroll in the online course to access Lessons?  No.  You do not have to enroll in the course to sign up for a Lesson.  However, I strongly encourage you to do so.  Why?  To protect you – the student/writer.  You need to have a proper understanding of what I look for in a story.  You don’t want my feedback to consist of a rehashing of what can be found in the course contents.

6. What books have you written?  I am the author of Something to Teach, Love at First…, My Brother’s Keeper, Crossroads, and Locked Up.  I have been writing and teaching for over twenty-five years.  You can see more of my work at jdlavelle.com.

7. What sort of materials or equipment do I need for this course?

• You need a computer – or some way to access the digital materials.
• You need a printer (or some way to print the PDFs).  In the editing section, I want you to print certain pages and then edit them with pen in hand.
• You need a pen or pencil (to edit and revise).